by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Through a work furlough program, inmates under the supervision of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office have the ability to work and earn money and pay their debt to society by spending at least eight hours a day behind locked doors.
According to Gordon Bass, director of the Department of Corrections for JSO, the program averages 58 inmates a day. While those inmates aren’t making a lot of money, JSO is currently responsible for the management and allocation of those paychecks. A bill working its way through City Council would put that money — and the responsibilities that come with making money while owing child support, alimony and other debts — in the laps of the inmates.
“This has been in existence for years,” said Bass.
The legislation would amend how the Sheriff’s Office collects what it calls boarding costs.
“We take up to 35 percent or a maximum of $100 of their gross paycheck a week from inmates who are gainfully employed,” explained Bass.
That money is used to pay restitution and other things such as child support. The rest belongs to the inmates. However, if the legislation passes, Bass said the inmates will be responsible for paying all debts, in-full and on time.
“We have been serving as the bank for inmates,” he said. “The inmate will become responsible for maintaining that account. We are getting out of the banking business. We want to help them become responsible adults and pay their own debts. There is enough demand on us. Why should we also serve as the bank?
“We want to instill behaviors that will mirror their daily lives and part of that is paying bills.”
Bass said the correctional facility currently has almost 4,000 inmates, which is over capacity. Temporary bedding has been brought in and other areas have been modified to accommodate the extra inmates.
He also said not every inmate is eligible for the work furlough program.
“If you want to be in the program, you have to qualify,” said Bass, adding those in for violent offenses or for selling drugs are not eligible. “There’s a whole list.”
Bass also said the inmates in the program are monitored closely. They must clock out of the jail, go to work, clock back in and there is a minimum of two telephone contacts with the inmate during working hours.
“Officers also conduct in-person checks. We keep tabs on them,” said Bass.
Keeping tabs on inmates is the subject of another piece of legislation in front of Council. Inmates are currently tracked by a plastic wristband that contains basic information. While the wristbands are durable and serve a minimum purpose, the plan to switch to a bar-coded wristband should prove even more effective.
“This will give us the capability to track them anywhere in the facility,” said Bass. “We can link the bar codes to our medical facility and who received their medication and who didn’t. We can track them in the mess hall and the hospital. It gives a better accounting of their whereabouts.”
The program will cost $142,000, but every dime of that will come in the form of a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice.
Bass also said the bar-coded wristbands should make escaping virtually impossible.
“We would hope so, but seeing the inmate population, nothing surprises me,” he said. “The wristbands are very difficult to get off. They can’t be easily ripped off like the current wristbands.”
Bass said as soon as the legislation passes and an acceptable quote comes in from a vendor, his department will purchase the bands and supporting software and equipment.
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