Albuquerque Journal
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center took a page from Chaucer and is making sure some of its inmates’ hands are indeed kept busy.
The megajail on the West Mesa has launched a sewing program. The goal is not only to cut in half the $250,000 the jail spends on textiles, including for 9,000 orange jumpsuits a year, but also to train inmates in a marketable skill so, it is hoped, they won’t reoffend when they get out.
By January the program is expected to have 12 to 16 inmates sewing jumpsuits. It’s a small start, but it has promise. In addition to making jumpsuits, by late 2011 inmates are expected to begin making mattresses and linens for use in the jail. The program is housed in a new $264,000 building behind the detention center.
County Commissioner Michael Wiener proposed the $371,000 sewing program last year after he visited similar programs at three Florida jails. MDC’s sewing program could be the first of several inmate work programs. Other ideas are small-scale agriculture projects, including hydroponic gardening and fish farming. Wiener says a number of jails and prisons around the country have started agricultural programs to help feed inmates. He says the programs will pay for themselves and help inmates develop work skills.
There is the added bonus of having inmates’ idle hands staying busy doing something productive, instead of playing cards, watching TV or causing a ruckus. And that could be a big plus in the jail that perpetually runs over its capacity of 2,236 inmates.
Copyright 2010 Albuquerque Journal