I don't think I have any inherent beef with having inmates do work for Parks & Rec. It's a win-win: Parks & Rec, short on cash, gets cheap labor; bored inmates get some activity and work experience. Only non-violent, low-risk inmates would be used, of course.
Personally, I'm a big fan of programs that give inmates something productive to do. Although the retributionist in all of us might prefer that certain criminals be locked in their cells with nothing but the bare necessities, simple math will tell you that it's often less costly to society when convicts leave jail in a productive capacity than it is to keep them incarcerated or to reincarcerate them. (Notice I said "often", not "always".) That's particularly true for most non-violent offenders.
Parks and Rec director Lynn Johnson has some concerns about the proposal, and rightly so. But it's clear there's excess work to be done. Trash could be picked up more frequently. Grass could be mowed more often. Baseball and softball fields could be kept in better condition. Restrooms could be kept cleaner. And so on. In the wintertime, inmates could be used to clear sidewalks and other pedestrian areas around public buildings and parks, leaving regular personnel more time to focus on the city's streets.
It's still early, though, so I look forward to seeing more details as the idea develops. How much will it cost? What jobs will they do? Will they wear pink?
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My first impression is that I think its a good idea too. If ex-death cultists can give tours at the Governor’s mansion, they can help keep the parks tidy as well.
Same here-This notion that ‘not around my kids’ is BS. There are so many nonviolent offenders around people’s kids that if they knew who they all were their parents would never let them outside again. If some teenager can be trusted to drive a 30-50,000 dollar tractor from Spring to Fall, and is okay to drive some of the city equipment, then why not these guys. By their very age difference alone you have a better chance of finding ones that have driven and handled heavy equipment or have CDLs or military experience. Having them sit around doing nothing is a waste of resources and rehabilitative potential.
here’s the thing. Virginia and Arizona, among other states, have been doing this for MANY, MANY years. NOW….Lincoln is “considering” doing this.
Well…when I was in the Lancaster Correctional Facility in 1998 we went to, of all places, the courthouse to help move the judges furniture into the old post office. This was done so the court could be held while the refurbishing of the county/city building was completed.
I don’t see a problem with non-violent prisoners doign something. It’s a lot better than sitting around in Air Park doing nothing.
And it’s NOT the burden on the taxpayers as I am sure someone will chime in on that. If it works for Maricopa County’s Joe Arpaio then why wouldn’t it work here?
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