Gov. Manchin Touts First Year’s Success Of Prison Inmate Highway Work Crew Program 

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Gov. Joe Manchin today joined West Virginia Department of Transportation Secretary Paul Mattox and Terry Miller, executive director of the West Virginia Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority to report on the progress of the governor’s highway work crew initiative, a year after the governor signed the executive order to make it a permanent program.

“Clean highways are often the first impression we have of a state,” Manchin said. “As West Virginians, we all should take great pride in the appearance of our highways because they reflect the pride we take in ourselves and our state. I’m very proud of the job that’s being done and the money we’re saving.

"This program by all accounts has been successful and it’s making a difference in the way West Virginians and others perceive our state when they drive along our highways.”

Gov. Manchin has been an enthusiastic supporter of inmate work programs since taking office in 2005. A pilot highways program in late-2006 led to the current work crew initiative that has been in place since March 2007.

Through August of this year, highway work crews comprising inmates from the state’s regional jails and corrections facilities have put in more than 216,000 hours of labor in all 55 West Virginia counties, according to agency records – the equivalent of more than 105 full-time employees for an entire year.

They’ve picked up more than 85,000 bags of trash from the highways alone since the program began last year.

“This program, implemented by Gov. Manchin, is an incredibly significant effort by two state agencies working collaboratively,” said Terry Miller, executive director, WV RJ&CFA. “We are pleased to be part of any effort that ensures West Virginia shines for residents and visitors alike.”

Mattox said the 43 prison work crews have picked up enough trash to fill a football stadium.

All 10 regional jails have work crews up and running. Inmate work crews have taken on a variety of roadside tasks, including litter cleanup, grass and weed cutting, brush control and road maintenance. Inmate work crews helped clean up flood-related damage in Doddridge County in March and in Marion and Taylor counties in June.

While the West Virginia Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority selects and oversees the work crews, the West Virginia Division of Highways provides vehicles, equipment and job locations and details. The DOH reimburses the regional jails for supervising officers’ salaries.

The crews also often work on weekends to help local communities near the regional jails with “good neighbor” projects, including cleaning and cutting grass at public ball fields, parks and fairgrounds, painting and cleaning at State Police detachments and city and county buildings.

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