Carbon County municipalities will now be able to use work release eligible inmates to help complete projects.

On Wednesday, the county prison board voted to reinstate the community service program at the prison. The program aims to use work release eligible inmates for community projects, as well as litter cleanup along highways.Commissioner William O'Gurek, who brought up the subject, said he thinks the program should be reinstated. The program was discontinued about three years ago after some issues arose."All of us have been thinking about getting the inmates out there doing something on projects that would benefit everyone," he said.He said when the program was operational a few years ago, the prison provided a correctional officer for supervision at the request of the former warden, but he feels that if the municipality provides supervision for the inmates, then that should beOK.Commissioners Thomas J. Gerhard and Wayne Nothstein agreed with O'Gurek about the supervision.Frank Shubeck, work release/treatment director, said he has some concerns about not having an officer with the inmates because last time, there were contraband and other disciplinary issues that occurred while out on sites.Gerhard said he understands Shubeck's thoughts, but said as long as the contract that the municipality signs outlines supervision, then he thinks that would be good.Shubeck will also do spot checks throughout the projects to make sure things are OK.He said any inmate who does not obey the rules while out on work release will have their privileges revoked and could possibly face longer jail time, depending on what the issue is.The inmates will be paid $1 a day for working in the program.Municipalities and organizations interested in using the work release inmates for community projects can contact Shubeck at 570-325-2211.