Arkansas Community Correction is preparing to interview applicants for a position to oversee prisoners in removing dilapidated buildings in Pine Bluff.
Arkansas Community Correction Chief Deputy Director Kevin Murphy said the prisoners will be supervised at all times. The prisoners will also be taught anger-management skills and job search skills and receive counseling.
“I am optimistic that we will get a qualified person,” Murphy said. “This job advertisement went out about one week ago and the deadline is May 6. The position has to be advertised like any state job. We advertise for at least one week. We will interview and make a selection. There have been several calls internally.”
Pine Bluff Mayor Debe Hollingsworth said the city expects the program will be for six months and will begin with 10 inmates. It will expand three months later with another 10 inmates and reach a maximum of 40 inmates. The state grant will last two years. Hollingsworth said she expects the prisoners will demolish 600 structures over the two-year life of the grant.
Murphy said that the construction supervisor position will oversee the inmates. This person must be experienced with working with inmates, working in construction and working in demolition.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The Pine Bluff City Council voted in January to accept $830,000 in grant funding for the program to use prisoner labor to tear down condemned buildings and provide participants with job skills training.
Developed by the Arkansas Community Correction and Arkansas State Sen. Stephanie Flowers, the program will provide job training in demolitions and materials salvage to inmates who are soon to be released on parole and considered likely to re-offend. The grant from the Arkansas Economic and Community Development Commission will fund the program for two years.
Murphy said that these inmates will work in this capacity for six months before being released into society.