Sheriff Work Release Program Off To Good Start

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Department has launched its new work release program that allows inmates to work jobs in the community while being incarcerated.

Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Farris said the work release program is different than work crews as the program allows inmates to go into the community and work a job. Farris said the program is designed to give inmates hope.

“This is a good way to help some of the inmates get back on their feet a little bit financially as well as have a future,” Farris said. “Hopefully, when they leave and get out of jail and get out of being incarcerated they can actually have full-time employment.”

Farris said the program started a week ago and the program has gone well so far. Farris said some of the community may be concerned about having inmates working in the public but assures that inmates have to meet strict requirements to participate in the program.

“Certainly no violent felonies, no sex crimes of any type, can’t have any aggravated burglaries or aggravated robberies or anything of that nature,” Farris said. “Obviously they are continually given random drug tests as well so there are a lot of restrictions and criteria to meet.”

Farris said the program currently has three inmates in the program. Farris said the plan is to slowly grow the program.

“We do have some other factories, other locations, and businesses that are interested,” Farris said. “So we are always working ahead and we have some that are probably going to step up and want to be a part of the program so that’s definitely gonna help.”

Farris said the only issue that he sees that could occur is the program not having enough inmates to send out to different businesses. Farris said the department will not lighten restrictions to increase the number of participants and that community safety is a top priority.