Judge explains work program suspension

County Judge Woody Hatcher says reports of poor supervision and concerns about security risks were among the reasons he recently suspended the public works program for the inmates he sentences.
The Floridan learned Wednesday that the program is suspended only in regard to the inmates he sentences from now on, not the inmates already in the work program.
Under the program, inmates work in the community for the county or the city of Marianna in exchange for “gain time” — or each day a prisoner voluntarily works for a public entity, the prisoner gets a day off his or her sentence. Most of the inmates, about 30 a day, work for the county.
An apparent misunderstanding caused the county to think initially that its inmates were being immediately pulled from the program.
A Jackson County jailer notified the county of Hatcher’s decision Thursday, Nov. 5,  and told the county that no inmates would be able to report to work the following Monday. 
Later that Friday, County Administrator Ted Lakey learned the jailer had apparently misunderstood the judge’s intent. When Lakey talked with Hatcher late that Friday, he learned the judge’s order would apply only to the inmates he would sentence after Nov. 5. The inmates already in the program continue to work.
The Floridan was only informed of this Wednesday morning.
Eventually, unless the judge lifts the suspension, the program would end as all the inmates currently in the program earn their releases.
Hatcher plans to appoint a committee to work on the supervision and security issues, and determine the future of the program.
The lack of adequate supervision, he stated in a written explanation of his decision, has led to “security risks encountered by the jail when prisoners return to the jail after having worked out in the community.”
Although he cited no specific instances, Hatcher felt the situation was dire enough to suspend the program going forward, at least until such security matters can be addressed.
“The court had over time received reports regarding unacceptable conduct by prisoners and the lack of supervision of prisoners that created a safety issue for the community,” the judge stated. “It appears that no one wanted to accept responsibility and provide the prisoners with direct supervision.”
Lakey, on learning that Hatcher plans to put him on that committee, was relieved. But he also defended the county’s supervisory practices.
“We have a couple of employees who supervise them at the courthouse, and I think it’s adequate for the level of inmates we have,” Lakey said. “I was unaware of these concerns, and I look forward to being on a committee to address any concerns there may be.”
In addition to Lakey, Hatcher plans to appoint a county commissioner, the chief jailer, the chief probation officer and two members of the Jackson County community at large to the news committee.
Hatcher initiated the public works program many years ago, in response to a federal mandate that could have forced the county to release inmates early because of overcrowding.
Hatcher crafted the public works program, with gain time as an incentive to participating inmates and as a solution to overcrowding.
Because of the program, the county avoided early releases and also gained valuable labor at little cost.
Hatcher said a private citizen, John McDaniel Sr., now deceased, was instrumental in helping start that program.
McDaniel, the father of former sheriff John McDaniel Jr., bought lawn mowers, slings, hoes, shovels and other equipment out of his own pocket to get the system under way during the administration of former sheriff Charles Applewhite.
In those days, the jail was run by the county sheriff. With the Applewhite’s support, McDaniel Sr. oversaw the first public works program, which consisted of maintaining several cemeteries in the community.
County residents also stepped in to help, and it grew into a much larger program.
Shortly after McDaniel Sr. died, his son took over as sheriff. Without McDaniel Sr. to oversee the program, the younger McDaniel and Hatcher restructured it into its current form.
Hatcher said he has grown increasingly concerned over time about safety and security, and that his decision to take another look at the program was not reached overnight.
He also pointed out that jail overcrowding is no longer an issue.