After more than 30 years, a Jackson County judge has decided to terminate the county's public works program for inmates.

Judge Woodrow Hatcher says the decision came down to unacceptable conduct and lack of supervision of the prisoners.
But some county officials believe the program provides a much needed service to the community.

"They can be an invaluable resource for departments like road department, parks and recreation, even cleaning our buildings, said Ted Lakey, county administrator. “We utilize them to do that."

Lakey has a professional background in corrections and knows firsthand the benefits of having them.

" They are paying back a debt to society."

Which is why he was surprised when he found out the county would no longer be using them.

The public works program was created in 1978 to offset the problem of overcrowding in the Jackson County Jail.

In exchange for the prisoners volunteering their time, the county granted them a day off their sentence for each day they worked.

The program significantly reduced jail overcrowding in addition to saving the county hundreds of thousands of dollars.

"The court had over time received reports regarding unacceptable conduct by prisoners and the lack of supervision of prisoners that created a safety issue for the community, said Judge Woodrow Hatcher. “It appeared that no one wanted to accept responsibility and provide the prisoners with direct supervision."

He says the court applied these criteria in re-evaluating it and it was based on these reasons the court believed the problems presented by the program outweighed the benefits the county.

"I wasn't aware of any problems and I don't know of any problems that have happened recently," said Lackey.

However, Hatcher says he is establishing a committee to take a closer look at the issues and get some feedback.

Lakey is one of the members on that committee.

He says he will definitely be advocating continuing the public works program.

Judge Hatcher's orders to terminate the program will only affect prisoners sentenced after November 5, 2009.