| Days later, they would build and install cabinets for the officers to place their duty bags.
The crew accomplished the work at no labor cost to the police department as part of Pennsylvania's Inmate Community Work Program, which permits outside agencies and nonprofit organizations to request the use of supervised inmate labor to work on community service projects. The organizations provide materials while the inmates provide the labor.
Uniontown police Chief Jason A. Cox said, "I think the program is very worthwhile. It not only provides the community with a resource that might not otherwise be obtainable because of funding, but also gives the prisoners an opportunity to give back to the community. We wouldn't have been able to have these improvements to the station without this program.''
SCI-Greene operates three crews as part of the Inmate Community Work Program, while SCI-Fayette in Luzerne Township offers one.
All of the crews provide assistance to local communities, and no inmates are forced to work.
Giachetti, who has supervised a crew operated by the Waynesburg prison for five years, explained inmates apply to participate for the program.
"The inmates who work for me take pride in their work,'' said Giachetti. "They enjoy doing their work.''
A brochure from the state Department of Corrections explained, "Inmates approved for the Community Work Program undergo a stringent review process and must be minimum-security inmates.''
The brochure also noted, "A trained labor foreman supervises crews that consist of up to 10 inmates. Labor foremen have equipment that enables them to maintain constant contact with the facility and local law enforcement to ensure public safety.''
Giachetti said, "They know there are many rules and they must follow them or they will lose their job. We are very strict with them in the community.''
Giachetti said the inmates from SCI-Greene work between five and six hours a day, depending on traveling time and also time needed to process them out of the prison and back inside.
Work crews change constantly as men come in and out of the program.
"Some come in with a lot of skills and that makes my job easier,'' said Giachetti. "Some come in with little skills and we encourage them to learn.''
He believes the program is positive.
Giachetti said, "I take pride in helping the community and helping the inmates. It's a win-win situation.''
The program has been in existence since 1995 as it provides services to state, federal, local governments and nonprofit organizations.
"This program has been one of the most successful in combating litter along our highways,'' the brochure reported.
It also noted, "Our mission is to protect the public by confining persons committed to our custody in safe, secure facilities and provide opportunities for inmates to acquire the skills and values necessary to become productive law-abiding citizens while respecting the rights of crime victims.''
Many local communities and nonprofits are taking advantage of the program, which allows crews to perform work within a 50-mile radius of the prison in Pennsylvania.
Giachetti keeps a notebook filled with work schedules as well as contacts.
"There's just so many places,'' he said as he thumbed through the notebook, later noting, "I'm booked halfway through June right now.''
The crew supervised by Giachetti has worked for several local fire departments, including Uniontown, South Union Township and Masontown.
Uniontown fire Chief Chuck Coldren said work performed by the crews included putting down a ceramic floor in the fire station. At the social hall, the crews stripped and re-waxed the floor, painted walls, and sealed the exterior brick wall with waterproofing. They also scrubbed the kitchen, cleaned the ovens and grills as well as the exhaust system over the ovens.
Coldren said, "They're pretty capable and competent, and very respectful.''
He noted the crews are willing to try anything that's asked of them.
"I wouldn't have a problem recommending them to anybody,'' he said.
Giachetti's crew has performed work at churches, including Point Marion, Masontown and Uniontown.
Tim Shell of Christ United Methodist Church in Uniontown reported the crew has painted Sunday school classroom inside and railings outside the church, washed and waxed floors, scrubbed woodwork and performed general cleaning.
"The prisoners are very polite. They listen to Mr. Giachetti very well. They do everything he asks and they do a good job,'' said Shell.
Warren Dick, co-chairman of the property committee for Jacobs Lutheran Church in German Township, said the crew did a lot of painting in the chapel, cleaned and waxed the floor in the recreation room as well as general housekeeping.
"We were very satisfied with the work they've done,'' he said.
Giachetti's crew has worked at parks in Hopwood, Uniontown and Masontown as well as the fairgrounds in Washington County.
They have assisted the Uniontown Area YMCA where they painted the gymnasium and performed outside cleaning last summer.
Wade Kennedy, maintenance director at the YMCA, said, "I am very high on this program. Everybody thinks inmates are rowdy. They all have been extremely courteous. They have been extremely hard workers. When they did our painting, they paid attention to detail. Outside, they cut brush and cleaned our property line. I can't say enough good things. I'm very pleased with the work they perform here.''
When the Dunbar Historical Society took on a project to create a coke oven, the inmates took bricks from an old coke oven in New Salem last year and loaded them onto trucks to help, Giachetti said.
The work crews recently assisted the Fayette County Historical Society as it transforms a Menallen Township home into its new headquarters. The crew removed modern touches from the building, including drop ceilings and wallpaper. They put up dry-wall ceilings and painted the rooms in period colors, including the trim and floors, as well as two staircases. The crew cleaned the attic and installed insulation.''
Giachetti said many townships request help from the program. He noted the crews have picked up litter and helped maintain roads throughout Fayette and Greene counties. The crews also have helped the state Department of Transportation, including assisting with emergency cleanup after storms.
Rhonda A. House, superintendent's assistant, reported the foreman for SCI-Fayette's community work program crew of six inmates said the inmates have performed 2,895 hours of work over the past six months.
She provided a list of their assignments from this time. They include work for local governments, such as Patsy Hillman Park in Brownsville and Luzerne Township, Centerville Borough and Luzerne Township Sewage Authority.
Nonprofit organizations served over the past six months include: Dunlevy Soccer Association, Washington County/Fayette County ferry, Rowe's Run Athletic Club, Grindstone Volunteer Fire Department, Nemacolin Castle in Brownsville, Labelle Volunteer Fire Department, the American Legion in West Brownsville, Fayette County Community Action Food Bank in Uniontown, food pantry at Point Marion United Methodist Church, Isaac Walton League, Christ Episcopal Church in Brownsville, food pantry at Calvin United Presbyterian Church in Brownsville, First Christian Church in Brownsville, Nixon Gun Club, Wooddale Bible Brethren Church and Mount Zion/Crescent Height Youth Center.
The crew has also assisted PennDOT in roadside trash collection.
Jamie Brink, food bank project manager for Fayette County Community Action, explained the crew has packed food boxes for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program that benefits senior citizens and sorted food drive items at the food bank in Uniontown. They have also worked at food pantries at Point Marion United Methodist, Calvin United Presbyterian Church in Brownsville and Brownsville First Christian where they unloaded the trucks and set up for the food distribution.
Brink said, "They have been a big help to us. The guys are very nice, very polite and we've never had an issue with them. They do volunteer work in any areas we need.''
To apply for use of the Inmate Community Work Program, call 724-364-2200, extension 1200, for SCI-Fayette or 724-853-2902, extension 551. |
