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Commissioners Discuss Lack Of Offenders Working Road Crew

Last updated on Wednesday, January 30, 2013

(BEDFORD) - Director of Lawrence County Community Corrections Doug Horton asked the commissioners Tuesday morning to sign a grant which would secure funding for the program through 2015.

The grant is for $240,345.

Commissioner Dave Flinn asked why he was not seeing as many community correction road crews working in the county.

Horton shared that currently the department is looking for a part-time weekend supervisor after the person who supervised the crews resigned after finding full-time employment.

Another reason is the numbers of criminal offenders ordered to serve has dropped.

Commissioner Bill Spreen, who serves on the judicial review board, disagrees with letting those numbers drop.

"The counties judges and prosecutors believe there are better programs for offenders to attend. I think they are wrong," Spreen says. "The tax payers have a right to see them out there working. We just have a difference of opinion. They are more into the rehabilitation then offenders paying back to the community. Work was always a pretty good rehabilitation with my boys. It's a touchy subject... but I believe the public needs to know."

Spreen added he is no expert, and those that deal with the offenders are. But he still disagrees.

Commissioner Dave Flinn agreed with Spreen adding it cost taxpayers money to house offenders, but it's free if the offenders serve on road crew.

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