DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION COMMUNITY WORK CREWS JOIN WITH DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION TO PREPARE ESPLANADE FOR FOURTH OF JULY FESTIVITIES

Milford (July 2010)- Massachusetts Department of Correction Community Work Crews have been busy working on the Esplanade and surrounding areas along the Charles River in preparation for Boston's spectacular Fourth of July celebration this week. For several years now, the Department of Correction (DOC) has provided inmate work crews to the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) during this period in order to prepare for the hundreds-of-thousands expected to gather along the Charles River over the holiday week. Again this year, the DOC Community Work Crews have an additional initiative-- recycling. They will recycle all cardboard and plastic bottles. The trash picked up will be kept out of local landfills.

DOC work crews are minimum security inmates nearing release or parole eligibility who provide labor to the state, local communities and non-profit organizations. They are supervised on site by DOC Correction Officers and staff. The work experience allows inmates an opportunity to return something positive to the community during their incarceration as well as learn responsibility. Inmates engaged in work release and programming improve their ability for successful reentry when they return to their communities upon release. Reentry is sound public policy which promotes public safety.

Additionally, at a time when cities and towns are struggling with resources, these inmate crews play an important role in performing work that might otherwise not be done. In 2009, there were 401 community work crews providing over 1.1 million work hours saving the Commonwealth over $8.1 million

The inmate crews providing services this week have been picking up trash, setting up chairs and barricades, mowing grass, and providing other beautification projects in preparation for this week's events. After the concert, the crews will move in shortly after the crowds have left and work throughout the overnight hours to remove tons of trash and restore the Esplanade to a pristine condition for those visiting the next day.