Corbin temporarily loses some inmate laborers

For the second time in less than a two-year period, a work release program that provides inmate labor to the city of Corbin had to be shut down for a brief stint due to inmate infractions.

Whitley County Detention Center Chief Deputy Jailer Bob O’Neill, who oversees the work release program, said Monday that he recently had to pull workers out of Corbin for a three-day period until he was able to find replacements due to what he called "a few rules violations."

O’Neill said one of the violations pertained to an inmate being able to meet with his fiancé while on the job, and others involved inmates that were being allowed to use a cell phone while they were working.

"We had three or four guys get into some trouble because of a few rules violations," O’Neill said. "What it was is we had an inmate whose fiancé was meeting him on the job.

"A couple of workers were using cell phones, which is also a big no-no," he added. "These type of things go on periodically and are taken seriously, but we just have to handle it."

O’Neill said he is working very closely with Corbin Mayor Willard McBurney and City Manager Bill Ed Cannon to rectify the situation and complimented the two on their efforts toward fixing the problems.

"Infractions of the rules are taken very seriously," O’Neill said. "We are working closely with the mayor and city manager to try and correct these problems and I really can’t say enough about how well the mayor and city manager are cooperating with us on this matter.

"They are working with us 110 percent and I couldn’t ask for better cooperation," he added.

The program currently consists of about 40 inmates who perform duties in Corbin, Williamsburg and at the county garage. O’Neill said he also has anywhere from 10 to 12 workers that are currently on the road trash pickup crew. He said the services that are provided save the city a considerable amount of money, as opposed to hiring full time workers to perform the duties the inmates provide.

"It would cost the city a mint to hire guys to do this work," O’Neill said. "This really a good program for all involved.

"They have done some really good work, like the Engineer Street Bridge project and some recent sidewalk work," he added. "We will not let anything jeopardize this program, so if they break the rules they will be handled according to policy."

Corbin City Manager Bill Ed Cannon was very appreciative of the services provided by the program and said Tuesday that while he was unaware of the particulars regarding the infractions, he is confident that the matter is being handled in the proper way.

"I really don’t know the particulars in these situations," he said. "I know there was an issue and that is being taken care of.
"This kind of thing happens occasionally," he added. "One or two of these guys get sideways and they just have to shut it down and do some switching around."

The state does not require, but encourages participation in the program by qualifying inmates as a rehabilitative measure. Inmates receive 63 cents a day for their work, and earn one day off of their sentences for every 40 hours worked. Cities and counties that use the inmates are required to pay a $60 accident insurance policy on each worker, and must provide one meal a day.

According to a story published in the June 27, 2007 edition of the News Journal, the Corbin program was shut down for a period of two weeks due to what at the time were called "serious" violations. Officials did not say at the time what the violations were, but sources close to the News Journal claimed the infractions involved illegal drugs.