Putnam Commissioners Approve Work Release Program

The Putnam County Sheriffs Department will launch a new work release program when the expanded jail opens.

Putnam County Commissioners approved the program Monday night. Sheriff Eddie Farris said up to 30 inmates could participate. He said inmates could either qualify to continue working existing jobs and serve time at night, or be selected to apply for work by the judge, district attorney, and Sheriff. He said the program could help inmates pay for court fees and fines.

“Just another way to maybe integrate some of these folks back into society and actually working a job, becoming an established citizen with a job that can pay their bills, pay taxes, and be like the rest of us,” Farris said.

Farris said the TCA mandates that the administrator over the program be paid extra. The Commission voted to increase Farris’s salary by 10 percent, which he said is the same increase other counties with the program have approved. By statute, Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter’s salary had to be increased by five percent, as it must remain five percent higher than any constitutional officer.

“This first year, I think we can try to make this work with what we already have,” Farris said. “You know, if we end up getting 30 people and if we’re going really good and there’s a lot of movement, certainly there’s comptroller audits and things that we have to make sure we do. If we see that we need more people, I’ll come to you next year and ask for that.”

Commissioner David Andrews said if the program goes poorly over the first year, the county can always discontinue it.

“We, in my opinion, are fortunate enough to have a facility now that we can do this,” Andrews said. “And I, personally, think it’s a win-win for everyone.”