|
Updated: 7:16 PM Jul 30, 2009
Female Inmates Have a Chance to Give Back
They're women who live a life behind bars. Now, after years of taking from society they have an opportunity to give back.
Posted: 6:52 PM Jul 30, 2009Reporter: Carrie Cline Email Address: carrie.cline@wsaz.com |
|
12 Comments 
MASON COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- From selling drugs to committing murder, inmates at Lakin Women’s Correctional Facility in Mason County, West Virginia spend years behind bars paying for their crimes.
A select few get the chance to give back and in the process save society a lot of money.
We can’t show their faces, only share their stories. They’re women who live a life behind bars. Now, after years of taking from society they have an opportunity to give back.
“I’m all for going green and taking care of our environment,” said one inmate.
These inmates get to spend nearly 40 hours a week working at Clements State Tree Nursery.
“We earned this. We get our time away from prison and get this privilege to come out and do a job and earn a little bit of money,” said an inmate.
“We were using the inmates throughout the summer to pull weeds, sow seeds, do some digging. We clean buildings in the fall and winter. We use the inmates to lift trees, haul them in and grade them. We count them and put them in bundles of 25,” said Jason Huffman, Manager of Clements State Tree Nursery.
“We have 120 acres here and grow a variety of seedlings that are sold to the residents of the state to promote re-forestation. We sell a lot to the mine areas in the southern part of the state, it’s very important to reforest the sites and this is the site where it all begins,” said Randy Dye, Director of the WV Division of Forestry.
This is a real sign of savings for the state. These women only make $1.50 an hour- a big difference over what the Division of Forestry would have to pay 10-20 workers, even at minimum wage.
“It’s been a tremendous asset to us and helped us reduce our costs and make the seedlings more available at a reasonable cost,” said Dye.
“I worked with my mom. She has a green thumb, but everything I look at dies,” said one an inmate.
But, the investment in these inmates is priceless.
“This is hard work. I would never choose to weed for seven hours so I give major props to the people out here,” said an inmate.
“What they’re doing here is more about putting something back out into the community, being a productive citizen of society and preparing for re-entry going back out into society,” said Adrian Hoke, Lakin Women’s Correctional Facility Warden.
“I feel like if I can do this, I can do anything,” said an inmate.
It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved empowering those who need it most.
Because of the Division of Forestry’s re-foresting efforts through facilities like the tree nursery, West Virginia is the most forested state in the nation.
Again, those trees cultivated at the state nursery are available to the public. To learn more about the trees available and how you can place an order, just go to www.wvforestry.com
Latest Comments
And the Super let the fulltime workers go in favor of the cheap labor.
There never were guards ever,He come for the cam that day.Politics and cheap labor is all.You were invited to pull the wool over the public eyes.
who is willing to give up your job to allow them to work? I know its not a good feeing to be bustin your bum to provide the basics for your family and show up for work and find "outmates" in your place! The state owns the grounds around the facility. Let/Make them grow, process, can and eat what they work for there. Leave my job alone!
|
|
|
Popular Searches Powered by Local.com |
- UPDATE: Two More Arrests in Parking Lot Armed Robbery
- Convicted Sex Offender Wanted
- Three Aging W.Va. Power Plants Closing
- UPDATE: Man Dies in Early Morning Fire in McArthur, Ohio
- IRS Warns to Expect Some Refund Delays
- NASCAR Racer Visits Charleston
- UPDATE: Man Charged in Violent Armed Robbery at Huntington Bar
- St. Albans Man Arrested in Large Drug Bust
- UPDATE: Mother Awaiting Sentence Faces More Trouble
- Spoof Alert in Athens County
- UPDATE: Vigil for Missing 3-Year-Old Girl
430 Comments - UPDATE: New Chief Deputy in Mason County Releases Department Mission Statement
148 Comments - UPDATE: Woman Fires Attorney in Sniper Digging Case Lawsuit
127 Comments - UPDATE: Mother Awaiting Sentence Faces More Trouble
61 Comments - UPDATE: Some Questions Remain Unanswered in Deadly CO Leak
48 Comments - UPDATE: Man Accused of Victimizing Elderly Found Guilty of Kidnapping; Victim Dies
40 Comments
- 126 reported killed as attacks escalate
- Doctor in Homs: We're all waiting to die
- Hacked e-mails reveal al-Assad spin
- Stay out U.S.
- Deep freeze overloads Ukraine EMS
- Ousted Maldives president faces arrest
- Same-sex marriage OK'd in Washington
- 911 response probed in Powell killings
- Opinion: Google knows too much
- Embattled LA school set to reopen
- Same-sex marriage OK'd in Washington
- Mississippi pardons to be challenged at court hearing
- Authorites probe 911 response to Josh Powell's home
- Official: Suspect in 'South Park' threats to plead guilty
- Rutgers student's suicide shouldn't define him, brother says
- University of Florida suspends fraternity for 'physical hazing incident'
- Victim in Atlanta video beating to speak out
- The deadly path to legal status
- Sound recordings amend history
- Deep freeze puts strain on Ukrainian EMS
- More than 700 suffer food poisoning after Mexico rally
- Spy agency called before Pakistani high court
- Court suspends Spain's most famous judge
- Deposed president faces arrest in the Maldives
- Greek leaders ready to back austerity deal
- Officials: Drone strike kills 4 in Pakistan
- Asylum or 'medical leave' for Chinese crime buster?
- UK: 'No negotiations' on Falklands
- Betting on Olympians -- for charity
- Band camp, other clubs suspended
- Champion remembered at event
- More members accused of hazing
- Sandusky urged to stay inside
- Words matter in Penn State case
- Out-of-county jury for Sandusky?
- 4th accuser drops abuse allegations
- Accuser pleads guilty to child sex
- Attorney: Victims to sue university
- Miss. high court considers pardons
- Seth Davis: Eustachy's second chance could lead Southern Miss to NCAAs
- Southern Miss a 7 seed in latest bracket
- All eyes on Tiger at Pebble Beach
- Rivers, Duke sink Tar Heels at buzzer
- Leafs, Wings to play in 'Big House' Winter Classic
- Report: Manning still unable to make most throws
- Syracuse earns OT win vs. Hoyas
- Memphis joining Big East in 2013
- Lin dazzles again as Knicks win
- SB Nation: Explaining Lin's surprise early success
 |
SOMC
Very good things are happening here. Click here to learn more |
 |
Click here for school closings and delays |
 |
Watch the Lottery Live Monday - Saturday @ 6:59pm on WSAZ NewsChannel 3. Need to check your numbers? Click here. |
 |
Watch the Ohio Lottery Drawings weeknights @ 7:29pm and Cash Explosion Saturday @ 7:30pm on WSAZ NewsChannel 3. |
 |
Click here to donate and help WSAZ help children at risk in our region. Thank you. |
 |
Click here to see how our partners are making Moms and women's lives easier. |
