Orange County NC Website
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10 <br />Considerations for the Use of Inmate Labor <br />Positive <br />• Development of inmate personal pride (source N, C, Department of Correction) <br />• Opportunity for inmates to give something back to the community; "paying their debt to society" <br />(source N. C. Department of Correction) <br />• Development of inmate work ethic (source N. C, Department of Correction) <br />• A sense of commitment and accomplishment by inmates (source N. C, Department of <br />Correction) <br />• Training and skill development of inmates, i.e. landscape maintenance, painting, constn~ction <br />(source N, C, Department of Correction) <br />• Community participation in the rehabilitation process (source N, C. Department of Correction) <br />• Timely and cost effective completion of various work assignments (source N. G. Department of <br />Correction and Orange County Public Works Department) <br />Inmates supplement the County's labor force and assist in the completion of tasks which are <br />Orange County Public Works Department functions, i.e. litter collection, general grounds <br />maintenance, washing of vehicles, organizing and moving surplus items to facilitate the <br />county's annual auction, <br />Inmate labor allows completion of projects in a timely and cost effective manner, Without the <br />used of inmate labor, this work would require the use of private contractors or the diversion of <br />Public Works staff from their normal work assignments, <br />• Saving of taxpayer dollars (source N, C, Department of Correction and Orange County Public <br />Works Department) <br />Reduction of contract labor expenditures <br />Elimination or reduction of overtime compensation as well as fatigue to county employees as a <br />result of the additional work hours <br />• Improved response .time during ice/snow and natural disaster operations (source N. G. <br />Department of Correction and Orange County Public Works Department) <br />• Participation in the rehabilitation and skills improvement of inmates (source N. C, Department of <br />Correction) <br />Negative <br />• Employee and public concern regarding inmates working in close proximity to them (source <br />Orange County Public Works Department) <br />• Risk of inmate committing an offense (source Orange County Public Works Department) <br />North Department of Correction Page - 6 - <br />Community Work Program <br />