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Work Center laborers do many tasks After 'giving something back,' they take cognitive restructuring classes at night, but some labor organizers say they take work away from law-abiding people By JILL BRISKEY Mail Tribune Whether he's hacking up shrubs or picking up trash, convicted felon Tyrus Jones said the Jackson County Community Justice Work Center is a key to unlocking a better future. "It gives me an opportunity to think on why I'm here," said Jones, a 34-year-old Jacksonville resident serving time for drug possession. "Not only am I picking up the skills, it's a way of giving something back to the community." But some union officials have raised concerns about the county-run program. They say that convicts like Jones are being used and exploited, and claim that inmate labor takes jobs away from law-abiding citizens. They also fear the convicted criminals have too much freedom. "In our eyes, (the county is) not doing anything to teach these people a trade. It's just labor for them," said Arden Prehn, labor organizer for Construction and General Laborers Union, Local 1400. "This is a big concern for us." The county work center opened 18 months ago and is the only one of its kind in the state. It is not a jail or a work camp - participants are not restrained and there are no armed guards. Work Center manager Dale Eller said participants are considered a low risk to the community. Participation is voluntary and open only to men. Offenders agree to perform a wide variety of tasks in lieu of jail time during the day, and take part in a series of "cognitive restructuring" classes at night. "These guys are our neighbors, they're the people you run into in the malls and in shopping centers," Eller said. "Why not have them in a project where they can actually do work, and learn a trade?" According to parole and probation officer Charles Roberts, men in the program are convicts who would normally be released early to meet the county jail's weekly cap. "Most of what we have here is probation and parole violators," said Roberts. "These aren't the bad guys. Those guys are in jail." Union representatives point to criminals such as Medford resident Curtis Eugene Fleming, 28, who served his sentence at the work center following a harassment conviction. According to court documents, Curtis committed a sex crime while on an approved furlough from the work center in August 2000. Fleming was charged and convicted of using a child in the display of sexually explicit conduct following an incident in Bear Creek Park. Field representative Chuck Smith of the Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters in December protested to county commissioners that the use of inmate labor takes jobs away from law-abiding citizens. "This is not an issue of sour grapes," Smith said. "It's a social justice issue." Eller said more than 50 participants have walked away in the last 18 months from work sites or the facility. When that happens, a warrant is issued for their arrest, he added. Approximately 99 percent are captured within 10 hours, and only 1 percent ever leave the community, Eller said. "For whatever reason, there's some crisis in their life," Eller said. "It's not so they can go and commit another crime." Roberts points to the positive aspects of the work center. Several participants have been offered jobs when state or private organizations witness the participants on the job. The men perform $2.5 million worth of services to the county annually, he added. "Instead of staring at a (jail) wall for 30 days, we bring them out as a service to the community," Roberts said. "The parks are beautiful because essentially they are the maintenance crews." Jones is grateful to the program for another reason. He recently obtained a state license qualifying him as a flagger. A former asphalt worker, Jones hopes his experience and the state license will help him get a job after his release. "I'm a repeat, multi-offender. I understand that," Jones said. "But I don't want to get high anymore. I don't want to get loaded. This is a gift that's been handed to me." Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.