Inmates lend helping hand
Ariia Pike
Dark tinted windows cover bars and Plexiglas inside unmarked vans parked at the State Fairgrounds. The passengers don’t mind the view; instead they are just happy to be out of prison.
Each year inmates from the Department of Corrections clean up after the State Fair closes.
The group of all-women inmates are transported from Perryville Prison in Goodyear and their job is to prep the grounds for the following day by collecting trash, sweeping walkways, and cleaning up the stadiums.
“The inmates work in a crew of about 30 individuals and do nearly all of the clean up,” said Marcus Hicks, a Correctional Officer.
The prisoners go to work in the late evening, finish early morning and must pass a Department of Corrections evaluation to ensure they are of no risk to the public or at any risk to flee.
“Inmates that show good behavior and no threat of escape are allowed to leave the prison. You’re not going to find anyone with a violent history on this crew,” Hicks said.
The inmates apply voluntarily to work at the fair and the experience overall is beneficial to the women, because working at the fair allows them to be outdoors during the coolest part of the day, as well as offer a festive alternative to their daily surroundings.
The group is directed by fair employees to areas that need cleaning or that may require more attention than others but is overseen by several correctional officers.
Inmates are compensated for their time and earn an average of 50 cents per hour.
The D.O.C. has several outside work crews similar to the State Fair crew.
There are inmates that work at local farms, car auctions and food banks.
These crews offer a service to the community that works for both sides,” Hicks said, “The women work hard, get off the [prison] yard, and the employer saves on labor costs. It’s a win-win.”
The goal of these crews is to teach work ethic, responsibility and ultimately, to provide new experiences and a foundation for the women to start over again upon release.
