Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Inmates are cleaning up Socorro

Administrator says he wants to make it a 'working jail'

Audry Olmsted El Defensor Chieftain reporter

Inmates are not just sitting around taking up space at the Socorro County Detention Center. They are out picking up trash and making Socorro more beautiful.

Some of the inmates spent Tuesday cleaning up the trash and weeds around the Socorro City-County Senior Center.

Jail administrator Evangel Maldonado said the inmates were "working and trying to give back to the community."

"Our motto is to get a working jail," Maldonado said.

By having the inmates out in the community working, the administrator said, they are not just sitting in their cells. This gives them something to do and they also get to be out in the sun as well.

The inmates at the jail have been cleaning up around Socorro since February. Some inmates finished cleaning up weeds and clearing trees this week at the State Police office in Escondida.

"This group is a good group. They work hard," Maldonado said of the four inmates clearing weeds at the senior center.

The inmates were Alex Rivera, James Cobos, David Yazzie and Reymundo Silva.

He added that all the inmates that are part of the project do a good job cleaning around town. The jail is also part of a project with the state to clean up trash along the highways.

Maldonado said inmates who are not a flight risk, are "short timers" or those who have misdemeanor convictions are eligible to participate. Both men and women inmates can participate.

aolmsted@dchieftain.com

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