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ESCANABA — For some members of the West-Central U.P. Regional Community Corrections Program, spending time working in the community may be more effective than serving time in jail.

Under the program, persons convicted of a crime are allowed to perform community service rather than serve time in jail.

Program member Allen Metzger, Hannahville, said community service has given him a sense of productivity.

“It’s good for my self-esteem,” he said. “I’m giving back instead of sitting in jail 24/7 stewing over a mistake.”

Metzger has spent the last three weeks working in the community on the work van — a crew of workers in the program. Work site security officer M.O. Simons said Metzger has shown such a strong work ethic, he has been appointed work leader.

He leads by example,” said Simons. “The rest of the guys in the crew listen to him.”

Metzger is currently leading the crew at the U.P. State Fairgrounds. Through the community corrections program, Metzger has also done work at the Salvation Army, helped hand out commodities for the Gladstone Community Center and assisted at the Humane Society.

“It’s a lot of help for the non-profit organizations that can’t afford to hire help,” said Metzger. “It fills a void in the community.”

Becky McIntyre, manager of Delta and Menominee Counties Corrections Program, said community service can involve a variety of jobs, and workers may be placed at specific work-sites if they have certain skills.

“For instance, if the YMCA has a shut-down we’ll send a painter there, or if there is someone with mechanical skills, they can be sent to the Gladstone ski hill if the machines break down.”

McIntyre said some are so successful at their work sites, they are offered employment after their community service is fulfilled. McIntyre said having steady employment is an important part of keeping those who have left the program on the right track.

McIntyre said the program is a win-win situation for the members and for the non-profit organizations they work at.

“We’re very lucky that these non-profit organizations take our workers. Our workers also help them in providing services to the community,” she said. “We couldn’t do what we do without them, and they couldn’t do what they do without us.”

Salvation Army Maj. Bill Cox said his organization often looks for help from program members, especially during the holidays.

“We’ve used them a lot during Christmas with hauling toys and distributing food,” he said. “They’ve also helped tremendously with the (Salvation Army) building renovation ... if it hadn’t been for the community corrections program it would have been very difficult to financially get this done, so we’re definitely indebted to the program.”

The Salvation Army and other non-profit organizations that hold toy drives for needy children such as Goodwill, and St. Vincent de Paul, are also helped by program members who make toys as their community service. If a program member is on disability, or cannot make the commute, they can do these in-home projects. They include making quality blankets, cribs and rocking horses for children.

McIntyre said, just like those who work in the community, the people who make toys often feel a sense of accomplishment in doing so.

“When they come in with a project we really notice the ownership they feel,” said McIntyre. “They come in with big smiles. It’s absolutely incredible how accomplished they feel. It changes them.”

District Court Judge Glenn Pearson said most of the offenders he sentences to community service have never before been involved in the community.

“Some of them, through their community service become more a part of and more connected with the community afterwards,” said Pearson.

McIntyre said the corrections program does not accept anyone who has committed a violent offense — the majority of workers have alcohol or drug offenses, or property offenses.

Those who are sentenced to time in jail and are in the community corrections program may be eligible for a “two for one,” which means for every two days of community service they work, they get one day reduced from their jail sentence.

Since community service reduces the amount of days in jail, McIntyre said it is financially beneficial to the community.

“It helps the county because (the county) does not get enough money to cover the cost of an inmate’s room and board,” she said. “It costs more than the $25 a day inmates are charged, so this way it saves money.”

 

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