By Angela Briggs, special to WCLU News
MUNFORDVILLE, Ky. — Help wanted signs line the windows of too many businesses to count it seems as employers struggle to find workers. A program at the Hart County Jail is allowing inmates the chance to work and earn a paycheck.
Those who have spent time in jail still face a hard time finding a job. Those who have been incarcerated have a 27% unemployment rate, compared to around 4% of the public, according to PBS Newshour.
Often, when inmates are released from jail they don’t have an ID, social security card or birth certificate – all needed to find a job. About a quarter of those released do not have a high school diploma or GED, making it even tougher.
The Hart County Jail is taking an approach that seems to be working, and Jailer Israel Bergenson is very proud of that.
The Hart County Jail has nearly a dozen inmates working at Kentucky Chrome. Starting pay for those inmates is $13/ hour. Jail deputies drive the inmates to and from work.
Bergenson said 60% of their paychecks goes toward any money they owe to the jail, 20% goes toward back child support and the other 20% goes into their commissary account. Those who owe nothing to the jail split their checks between child support and commissary. Those with neither child support nor jail expense obligations are given their complete paycheck.
The jail writes inmates a check for the amount in their commissary when they are ready to be released. Bergenson said that amount can be a large sum of money for some inmates.
“We’ve had inmates get out, and we’d have to write them a check for $13,000 to $14,000 going home,” Bergenson said.
It is not just tough on those in jail; it is tough on their families too.
With no income, inmates must depend on friends and family for commissary money, funds for phone calls and personal items. Bergenson said this program eliminates those stressors.
“It puts the families in a bind when they have to upkeep them in jail,” Bergenson said. “It’s hard enough to keep your own bills paid, let alone somebody else’s.”
Inmates must receive a certain classification from the Department of Corrections in order to be eligible for the program, and no violent offenders are able to participate.
Once released, these workers get to keep their job, their child support is caught up, they do not owe the jail any money. Many are able to get a place to live and are more likely to reconnect with their families, Bergenson said.
The jailer said Ray Carrion and everyone at Kentucky Chrome has been great to work. He also gives credit to a former Hart County Judge Executive.
“I always have to give a shout out to Mr. Martin, the past judge here too because Ray and Mr. Martin are actually the ones that got together and got with me,” Bergenson said. “Mr. Martin pushed it through on the government side and got it done.”
The jail has had as many as 24 inmates in the program at once.
