Correctional Work Center reports inmate programming and passes state inspection; juvenile contracts approved at updated daily rate

Clinton Cope, Correctional Work Center representative, briefed the committee on February activities, including reentry/post‑release coordination and the work‑release program’s efforts to connect participants with employers. He reported trash‑collection and county savings tied to offender labor, and noted medical quality‑assurance statistics included in the packet.

Cope said the center received an inspection letter from the Tennessee Corrections Institute and that staff performed well during the review; he described the inspection outcome as an “easy pass.” The chairman and other commissioners commended staff for emphasizing that “no one should be looked at as a throwaway person” and for correctional programming benefits such as reduced recidivism and workforce readiness.

The committee approved three contracts (Benton, Carol and Smith — identical daily‑rate contracts) to finalize signatures for an updated daily rate of $200. Commissioners also approved a budget amendment moving $2,500 from medical and dental services and $2,500 from supplies into a $5,000 other‑contracted‑services line to cover meals for detained juveniles.