corrections

The Inmate Work Crew Unit operates from the Inverness Jail. Inmate work crews perform community public work projects, maintain and repair some Multnomah County facilities, provide adult and juvenile corrections laundry, and provide some services through private contract with other governmental agencies.

Based on needs of contracted clients, as well as the increasing ability to provide service to internal customers, the unit’s workload is ever increasing. The work crew unit will continue its mission of teaching basic work ethics, labor skills, and social responsibility to facilitate the reintegration of inmates to the community.

Multnomah County inmates looking for opportunities to serve the community

Inmates from Multnomah County jails recently revived the appearance of Wood Village City Park as part of an inmate work crew community service program. The inmates, under supervision by sheriff’s deputies, cleared five acres of dense, overgrown blackberry bushes and thinned an area of the park that is popular with area residents.

Chuck Rollins, City of Wood Village public works employee, says he has heard from several residents who use the park and say they feel much safer now that visibility is increased. “(The work crew) did a fantastic job,” said Rollins. “The inmates were proud of their work and were very motivated.”

In 2007 inmate work crews from Multnomah County jails performed 5,366 hours of community service. Work Crew Supervisor Sgt. Tina Breiten is looking to double that number. Non-profit organizations and local government agencies that have a need for labor are invited to call Sgt. Breiten with their request.

Breiten oversees 14 crews of eight inmates each, who do everything from laundry to landscaping, litter removal to illegal dumpsite clean up, painting to carpentry, janitorial services to graffiti removal. The inmates perform both contracted work and community service. The work performed by the inmates is usually work that wouldn’t otherwise get done due to tight budgets and well, because no one else wants to do it.

Recent community service projects include Camp Angelos, Race for the Cure, the Columbia Slough Regatta and Friends of the Library. A partnership was developed with A Center for Family Success to renovate a porn shop in Gresham. The Center for Family Success helps to improve the well being of children whose parents are involved in the criminal justice system.

MCSO Work Crews Assist with Vernonia Flood Relief view images

In December 2007, the small town of Vernonia was devastated by a flood. Inmate work crews went to help the citizens of Vernonia reclaim their lives. They worked 12 to 14 hour days for 10 days straight. The work crews did everything from removing insulation, debris, restore landscaping, reattach a handicap ramp to the local veterinary clinic, and cut split and stack 18 cords of wood in 4 hours so the community would have a source of heat.

“The inmates stated that being able to help the citizens of Vernonia is truly what Christmas is about”, Breiten says. “They saw this as away to give back to the community”.

Inmates selected for the work crew must meet the same criteria as those who qualify for work release programs. They are expected to be ready for work each morning, take directions, work as a team, have pride in a job well done, and accept responsibility for their actions. For this they learn valuable job skills, are paid one dollar a day, and can reduce their jail sentence.

As with all the programs offered to Multnomah County inmates, the goal is to prepare the inmate for integration back into the community as a law-abiding citizen. The work they do: landscaping, litter removal, and light maintenance makes Multnomah County safer, cleaner, and generally more livable.

Inmate work crews perform work under government contract for agencies such as ODOT, City of Portland, Metro and the Zoo. While the county is paid for this contracted work, MCSO wants to see the work crews performing more community service, much of which is done for free.

The work crews are available to assist non-profit organizations and cities within Multnomah County with light maintenance and landscaping, and provide emergency services where there is an immediate need for labor caused by natural disasters (such as sandbagging during floods, clearing roads after windstorms, etc.)

The public is invited to approach a work crew deputy to find out the type of work being performed. All clothing worn by the inmates on work crews will identify them as a Sheriff’s Office inmate. Road signs are posted near the work site for public information.

“It was a real pleasure working with the deputies and crews,” said Rollins. This was a win-win situation for Wood Village and the inmates. I would recommend them to any organization needing work done.”

For more information contact Sgt. Tina Breiten at 503-988-5039. The inmate work crews are looking for work! And you’d better hurry, Chuck Rollins says he has another project out in Wood Village for the inmates next Spring!