The Wilson County Inmate Labor program has been highly successful. The inmates perform housekeeping tasks within county buildings, maintenance on the grounds and other various tasks as the need arises.

All inmates participating in the program do so voluntarily. Each inmate has an assigned job for which he is responsible. The Maintenance Department Inmate Labor Supervisors train each inmate in their area of responsibility and ensure the job is carried out properly. Maintenance supervisors Jerry Acres and Stephen Wingate are responsible for 12 inmate laborers.

In addition to giving trusted inmates the opportunity to get out of their cells for a while, the inmate laborers have achieved some rather impressive accomplishments, including cleanup from Hurricane Fran damage. They also assisted in relocating the Register of Deeds and the Clerk Of Court Offices, as well as other important tasks.

But don't go to jail to get a job. The pay rate for inmates is $1.00 per day and they have to buy their own lunch. Although the meal is only 30 cents, the resulting "take home" pay is only 70 cents per day. Because of this, the Inmate Labor Program has been quite cost-effective for the County but also a valuable asset to the Maintenance Department.

The inmates do a very good job and take pride in a job well done!