Prison inmates leave cells to build houses

There’s a flip side to the never ending story of murders and mayhem behind the walls of Hattieville Prison…and that is that at any given time a significant corps of prisoners are not behind the walls at all; they’re working hard right down your street. Jacqueline Woods met a few of them this morning.

Jacqueline Woods, Reporting

For the past two years they have become a regular sight at various locations throughout the city; inmates from the Department of Corrections working on various community projects. The prisoners, who are not considered dangerous, are trustees of the prison and are serving time for crimes like burglary and drug possession. Today, the inmates were busy on Tibruce Street in the St. Martin De Porres area.

Inmate Goldburn Adolphus who has been with the project since 1998 says the group has been kept busy.

Goldburn Adolphus, Trustee, D.O.C.

“Well we have been doing a number of projects on Plues Street, George street and also at eight miles. This for instance we took only two hours to cast this foundation right here.”

Jacqueline Woods

“Is this another Cubel house being constructed here?”

Goldburn Adolphus

“Yes this is another Cuban house. We get involved in painting also. The Hostel school, right now we will be going there to refurbish the insides, paint it up and we also do bushing.

The inmates say they not only get the opportunity to repay their debt to society but they also benefit as individuals.

Goldburn Adolphus

“Well this helps us a lot because it gives us time to think about the wrong we did out here and we are putting ourselves back in society. This is our payment right here, communicating with people and giving back something to the community.”

The inmates are supervised by prison officers, who remain at the work site, as well as personnel from the Housing Department. Reporting for News Five, I am Jacqueline Woods.