© 2024 WFAE
90.7 Charlotte 93.7 Southern Pines 90.3 Hickory 106.1 Laurinburg
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Cleveland County To Launch Inmate-Work Program

flickr/Jimmy Emerson

The Cleveland County Sheriff's Office is launching a new program this summer that will allow inmates in Cleveland County to volunteer with local nonprofits.  

In Cleveland County, there are about 280 inmates at the local detention centers. Some of them are serving time in jail for non-violent misdemeanors.

Sheriff Alan Norman says the county and prisoners will be better off if these non-violent offenders can contribute to society while serving their sentences. He wants groups like churches, fire departments and parks to sign up to let inmates help them.

"It benefits the inmate by being able to first of all be outside of the detention center during working hours whenever there is a project for them to actually work on and be able to have a sense of giving back to the community also," Norman says.  

He envisions these inmates painting walls, picking up trash and helping with other work projects in the county.

He started seeking nonprofits to partner with the Sheriff's office earlier this month, but so far no groups have signed on.