Colorado Could Let Inmates Work on Farms
DENVER (AP) -- Colorado is considering letting prison inmates work on private farms after farmers complained that an illegal-immigration crackdown has left them short-handed, officials said.
Two vegetable farmers told prison officials and lawmakers that they need five to 20 workers and will pay up to $9.60 an hour - more than they've paid migrant workers in the past - but can't find anyone to do the work.
The Pueblo Country farmers, Joe Pisciotta and Phil Prutch, said immigrant workers are afraid to come to Colorado because of its tougher immigrant laws passed last summer. Among other things, the laws require people receiving state and federal benefits to prove they are legal U.S. residents.
"They've just given up and gone to other states that don't have these new laws. They just don't want to deal with it," Pisciotta said.
The Corrections Department program would probably start in Pueblo County, operating under the prison industries division, which already trains and employs about 1,200 inmates, department Executive Director Ari Zavaras said.
"Depending on how well it works, we'll see where it will go," Zavaras said this week.
He said the program fits his and Gov. Bill Ritter's new emphasis on reducing recidivism. Under current growth estimates, prison construction will cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars over the next five years.
Colorado's prison industries system already has internal agricultural jobs including growing flowers, raising bees and cultivating wine grapes. Inmates also manufacture items ranging from furniture to plastic bags.
DENVER (AP) -- Colorado is considering letting prison inmates work on private farms after farmers complained that an illegal-immigration crackdown has left them short-handed, officials said.
Two vegetable farmers told prison officials and lawmakers that they need five to 20 workers and will pay up to $9.60 an hour - more than they've paid migrant workers in the past - but can't find anyone to do the work.
The Pueblo Country farmers, Joe Pisciotta and Phil Prutch, said immigrant workers are afraid to come to Colorado because of its tougher immigrant laws passed last summer. Among other things, the laws require people receiving state and federal benefits to prove they are legal U.S. residents.
"They've just given up and gone to other states that don't have these new laws. They just don't want to deal with it," Pisciotta said.
The Corrections Department program would probably start in Pueblo County, operating under the prison industries division, which already trains and employs about 1,200 inmates, department Executive Director Ari Zavaras said.
"Depending on how well it works, we'll see where it will go," Zavaras said this week.
He said the program fits his and Gov. Bill Ritter's new emphasis on reducing recidivism. Under current growth estimates, prison construction will cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars over the next five years.
Colorado's prison industries system already has internal agricultural jobs including growing flowers, raising bees and cultivating wine grapes. Inmates also manufacture items ranging from furniture to plastic bags.
