By Tiffeny Owens
The Cullman Times
CULLMAN COUNTY, Ala. — A federal complaint filed by a female inmate at the Cullman County Detention Center has prompted county officials to establish a work release program for women incarcerated at the facility.
The Cullman County Commission authorized the signing of a confidential settlement agreement for the sheriff’s office. The settlement will resolve a complaint filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, said County Attorney Chad Floyd. He declined to release any other details about the settlement due to the confidential nature of the case.
Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry said the EEOC complaint was filed against the department prior to his taking office in January.
“By federal law, possible charges (complaints) made to the EEOC are strictly confidential, and we are prohibited from commenting on them, furnishing any information on them, or even confirming or denying the existence of such a charge,” said James Ryan, EEOC public affairs specialist. “Any written materials or decisions that may have resulted from a charge or any resulting investigation are likewise confidential by law. Only when and if we file suit — usually a last resort after other outcomes are attempted — are we allowed to furnish any information. At that point, of course, it has become public court record.”
Gentry said a female inmate filed the complaint because the detention center did not provide any work release opportunities to females. Gentry said he was not aware of the settlement agreement approved by the commission this week, but said the jail established a program for female inmates this month.
“It’s in its third week, and there’s eight inmates in the program,” Gentry said. “They’re working for local manufacturing companies. We’re excited about it because it’s giving those inmates a direction, and most importantly, it’s giving them the ability to pay back restitution owed to victims.”
The Cullman County Work Release program has only been open to male inmates since its beginnings in May 2005 when it started with just 12 participants. A third of the money a work release inmate makes goes to restitution, Gentry said.
This summer, the program surpassed more than $1 million generated for crime victims, the court system and those owed child support in Cullman County. Additional money has been repaid to other counties.
Over the past 10 years, $682,000 has been paid to circuit court cases, more than $153,000 to district court cases and $212,000 for child support. The program has grown to 51 work release inmates and 13 inmate workers, or trusties.
“It’s something that keeps them from returning back to the feelings of hopelessness,” said Work Release Director Sgt. Eulaylon Hadley in May during a ceremony celebrating the program’s 10th anniversary. “When they start making money at their job, they get that feeling of success for themselves. Once they complete their sentence or have a court-ordered release, a lot of them are able to keep the jobs they had.”
Copyright 2015 The Cullman Times