Barnstable County community work-crew inmate Charles Sanford preps his electric sander for some work on the new Sandwich Chamber of Commerce building, located near the intersection of Routes 6 and 130. The 5-man crew, dispatched by county Sheriff Jim Cummings and combining with donated materials from area contractors, will enable the chamber to build its new headquarters at a price well below its normal markup.
Two other inmates – or is it three (see center window)? – do backside prep work while Sanford has a go sanding on front exterior.
Inmate William Murphy does some gutter work along the outside, backside. The crews were in Sandwich ten times last calendar year, helping municipal and non-profit groups lower the price tag on projects with their infusion of donated labor. In calendar years 2014 and 2015, the county-wide figure for inmate labor valuation was $1.19 million – a figure calculated by using a per-hour figure provided by the state.
Inmate William Prickett has the side of the building covered here, literally, as he applies a prep coat of paint to the trim of an outdoor porch. Only about 5% of the inmate population is eligible to do these jobs because most fail at least one of the checklist items used to evaluate security risk. “We err on the side of caution,” says Sheriff Cummings. “If in doubt, they don’t go out.” Those who do, meanwhile, are always supervised by a deputy sheriff.
Media release furnished by Barnstable Sheriff’s Office
