Seven inmates on the county roadside cleanup crew gathered 995 bags of trash during August.
The Statewide Misdemeanant Confinement Program (SCDM) allows eligible county inmates the opportunity to provide a service to the public while in county detention, Sheriff Bill Rogers explained.
“Programs like SMCP provide accountability while also allowing individuals to contribute something positive to the community,” he said in a press release. “We are proud of the effort put forth throughout the month of August and grateful for the work being done to keep Columbus County clean, safe, and beautiful.”
Non-violent inmates who are convicted and sentenced to local jail time may participate in the program. Prisoners are bussed to and from work areas, and pick up trash under supervision of detention officers. Not all inmates are allowed to participate. Workers are not allowed to interact with the general public. The collected trash bags are retrieved by Dept. of Transportation trucks.
The SMCP worker covered 42.7 miles of county roadways in August, the release said. In July, workers collected 404 bags of trash along 27 miles.
“When we have the opportunity to give back to our community, we should take it,” Rogers said.
