Tuesday, October 28, 1997
Jones County inmates: no smoke, no work
By ROY A. JONES II Regional Editor and SANDRA CHITTUM Correspondent
ANSON - You'll have to forgive embattled Jones County Sheriff
Robby Wedeking if it seems he just can't win for losing.
Already under indictment for a misdemeanor and constantly under
pressure from Jones County commissioners about his office's expenses,
Wedeking has now seen the court - in a strange way - side against
him and with some jail inmates attempting to hold Jones County
economic hostage.
In a nutshell it's like this:
-- Wedeking has told inmates, "No smoking at work."
-- The inmates have told Wedeking, "No smoke, no work."
-- The commissioners have told the sheriff: "No work crews,
no pay."
The next move apparently is up to Wedeking, who did not attend
a commissioners' meeting Monday.
Notice of the "peaceful work stoppage" first came
to light in a handwritten letter sent to the Abilene Reporter-News
and signed "Jones County inmates."
"We the work crews and trustees of the Jones County Jail
are informing you, the public, of a smoking ban policy imposed
by Sheriff Robby Wedeking that will go into effect 29 October
1997," the letter said. "This smoking ban will effect
the privilege of the inmate work crews and trustees.
"Besides the very few that get extra time served and the
benefit of going outside we enjoy the extra benefit of using our
tobacco products," the letter went on.
After explaining that the inmates "maintain the sheriff's
office, courthouse, city parks and attractions, highways, cemeteries,
fair grounds, Opera House and probation office," the inmates
noted, "The public receives a lot of mileage from a cigarette."
"We enjoy helping the community and the opportunity to
repay the public, however, since this is a voluntary program we
would like to keep this (smoking) privilege. This is a jail not
a prison. We will conduct a peaceful work stoppage effective 29
October," the inmates concluded.
Chief Deputy Gary Shaw and Deputy Glenda Snyder attended the
commissioners meeting Monday to discuss the matter. Shaw said
the smoking ban was initiated because of a complaint from an employee
within the sheriff's office. He did not explain further.
Current policy prohibits smoking inside the jail building -
by either inmates or employees.
County Judge Brad Rowland reminded the deputies that money
has been placed in the sheriff's department budget especially
for the two jail work crew coordinators. About $29,500 is budgeted
for the coordinators this year, he said.
"If we don't have a work crew to take care of the courthouse
and the grounds, then we will have to have that money back,"
Rowland said. He added that the money would be used to hire someone
for janitorial and maintenance duties in and around the courthouse.
"This has been a tremendous public relations program to
have the work crew out maintaining the cemeteries and the courthouse,"
the judge added.
Commissioner Steve Lollar said the program has also saved the
county a significant amount of money.
Despite the smoking ban and threatened work stoppage, the possibility
of a small work crew apparently exists.
Some inmates also receive three days off their sentence for
every day they participate in the voluntary work program. At the
present, only two inmates receive credit on their sentences for
their work.
Those two inmates told a reporter that despite pressure from
the other inmates they will continue to work.
"If we don't work we will lose the time we have accumulated
so far," one inmate said.
Because the smoking ban was not on the agenda Monday, commissioners
could not take any official action.
"We will have to wait and see what the next few days bring
before we take any action," Rowland said. "This program
has worked beautifully during the past five or six years, and
I hate to see it end."
In another potential burning issue that was on the agenda,
commissioners lifted the burn ban that had been placed into effect
throughout Jones County before the recent rain.
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Copyright ©1997,
Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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