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TOOELE -- After reports of ongoing problems with Tooele's inmate worker program, officials at the county Sheriff's office have suspended the program at its detention facility.
Sheriff Deputies say there have been escape attempts and crimes committed on-site, which has nearby residents concerned.
The trustee program has been a suspended for a couple weeks now, as officials try to remedy the troubles. Non- violent inmates have assisted at the Tooele County Senior Citizens Center, the Tooele County Food Bank and at the landfill.
If they can't abide by the rules, then we can't have it.
–Duke North
At the senior citizens center, where many of the seniors are in their 70s and 80s, provided much needed service. But on occasion, inmates have stolen items and have participated in illegal drug use.
"If they can't abide by the rules, then we can't have it," said chief deputy Duke North.
Twice, inmate workers have tried to escape from the senior center. The most recent attempt was a few weeks ago. It took police officers until the next day before they captured the inmate.
"That's not good for us; that's not good for the people that walked away; and that's not good for the facilities where they're at because they're no longer there providing the services for them," said Chief Deputy Duke North.
They do our heavy lifting -- they lift the heavy pots and pans. A lot our volunteers are 70 or 80 years old. It's just not practical for them to carry some big pot of food.
–Joshua Maher
However, Joshua Maher, director of the Tooele County Aging Services, is defending the program and its merits.
"They do our heavy lifting -- they lift the heavy pots and pans," Maher said. "A lot our volunteers are 70 or 80 years old. It's just not practical for them to carry some big pot of food."
Sheriff's officials don't plan to scrub the work release program entirely -- just keep it on hiatus until the bugs are ironed out. They're focusing on closing loopholes and improving enforcement and training.
Until now, deputies have escorted inmates to and from work sites. The sites have been responsible for supervision of the inmates while there.
"That's what we're looking at," North said. "So that's where we're going to go from there and then that will drive what our training program is going to be."
Maher acknowledged the senior center would seek other help if it comes to that, though he contended the inmate workers are valuable.
"In general, they're really motivated," Maher said. "We really appreciate the service they provide us and we hope we get them back again soon."
E-mail: aadams@ksl.com
