THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 28, 1996 TAG: 9606260091
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Ida Kay's Portsmouth
SOURCE: Ida Kay Jordan
LENGTH: 87 lines
You can't miss them around town.
They wear orange coveralls marking them as wards of the Sheriff's Department.
They work hard, doing jobs a lot of others would eschew.
They say that being outdoors in the heat and humidity is better than the alternative.
The alternative, of course, is sitting around in jail all day.
I stopped over at the old Coast Guard station south of City Hall to meet the nine-woman crew that last Friday morning was washing government-owned cars.
It was hot and humid, and even though a breeze blew off the Elizabeth River, it was not comfortable. I was miserable, but the women seemed oblivious to the weather. Perhaps the difference has to do with the alternatives - mine, an air-conditioned office, and theirs, a crowded, noisy jail cell.
``Every morning we wash cars, and every afternoon we pick up trash or do other jobs for community organizations,'' Deputy Susan Grimes said. ``This afternoon we're going to paint the DAC Center.''
All of the women on the work crew were picked up for parole violations.
But what ran them afoul of the law in the first place?
For most, the answer is drugs.
``I would rather be out here where I can keep my mind busy and my body fit,'' Carolyn Sewell, 42, told me.
Patricia Gular, a 33-year-old dump-truck driver, spoke an old but true adage:
``An idle mind is the devil's paradise.''
The women chosen for the jail's first female work team were interviewed and screened before they were picked for the outside jobs. All applicants had to be serving time for non-violent crimes. All had to have time ahead of them; however, one of the work incentives is a reduction of their time by as much as one-third if they do well on the work crew.
That, they agreed, is not bad pay for the work they do.
Besides, said Clarese Schoolfield, 36, ``It takes some frustration off of you.''
Most of the women are 30 or older.
``I'm the baby,'' 25-year-old Kimberly Vaughan told me.
The women are proud of their success as the pioneer women's work group. In fact, city departments specifically request their services all the time.
Watching them working on cars, I could see why. They checked behind each other to be sure there were no streaked windows or other appearances of sloppy work.
One of the projects they really liked was washing down the police boat. They also have cleaned the Mounted Patrol's horse trailer and the meter maids' three-wheel vehicles.
``We can do anything,'' Schoolfield said.
I believe that!
``This group shows women can do as good as men,'' Alethia Dupree, 30, chimed in.
I believe that, too.
The formation of this work crew seems like a super idea.
Several of the women in the group hope to be able to return to their jobs when they're released from jail. Others had no job and have nothing to go back to. A couple of them talked about the possibility of opening up a car-washing service when they get out.
That sounded good. But I don't think it will happen unless somebody works with the women to set up businesses. Many a person who can do the work has failed at business because of no prior experience in matters such as running an office.
Why not give the program started at the jail another step? Why not give the women specific work experience for jobs that are needed in the community with the notion that they will move out of jail and into paying jobs?
Of course, that would mean having a person in charge of following up on the women in a very positive way. That seems like one way to help a certain number of inmates avoid repeat performances at the jail.
The women I saw working last Friday seem like good candidates for such a program.
I can't believe there isn't some way some agency in town couldn't become involved. Maybe there's even some grant money available for a pilot project.
Obviously, the women's crew is making an impact in the community. I've heard nothing but raves about them. Their reputation for doing good work seems like a basic building block for a program that would help them either find jobs or create their own.
Deputy Grimes admitted that she was somewhat skeptical when she was picked to supervise the crew.
``They have surprised me,'' she said. ``They are good workers, and they are a good group.''
The admiration obviously is mutual.
``We love our boss,'' Kimberly Vaughan told me. by CNB