Dawson County Georgia Sheriff

Work Detail/Release Program

Sheriff Billy Carlisle feels that it is important to utilize our inmate labor force to save tax dollars whenever possible. The sheriff’s office allows several county departments access to inmate labor at no charge. The park, city water department, the school system, and several other county offices currently use inmate labor. It is estimated that this saves the county over $150,000.00 a year in labor cost. The sheriff’s office also has two detention officers assigned to work details. The crews cut grass for all county and city buildings, act as a garbage service for the county buildings, pick-up trash on county and city routes, and often do maintenance and construction work for various county offices.

Most of the equipment shown in the picture above was seized from local drug dealers and at no cost to the taxpayer. This is just one more way that the sheriff’s office is saving your tax dollars.

To learn more about the inmate work detail you can contact Major Jeff Johnson at (706) 344-3545 or jjohnson@dawsoncountysheriff.org.

In 1997 the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office began a work release program. A superior court judge may now sentence someone to this program at their discretion, if they meet certain criteria. It is intended for inmates who successfully complete the work release program to gain responsibility in today’s society by maintaining full-time employment, satisfying the required financial payments, and other requirements that are ordered by the court.

The program is limited to ten individuals at a time and to be eligible you must meet certain criteria. It is not available to inmates who have been charged or convicted of crimes in an aggravated nature, sex related crimes, bail or bond absconding, violation of Georgia Controlled Substances Act involving intent to distribute, vehicular homicide, or robbery. The inmate must work for a legitimate employer who is recognized and established. The inmate must be able to pay subsistence for room and board which is set by the Program Supervisor. The inmate must agree to submit to urine based drug screens as requested by work release staff and pay $10.00 each time drug screens are administered. The inmate must also have a reliable means of transportation from a licensed driver. The inmate is not allowed to drive at anytime unless specifically ordered to do so by the court. The inmate must also follow all other policies and rules set up by the Sheriff and his staff for this program.

Anyone interested in learning more about the program can contact Major Johnson at the detention center. If you have a friend or family member who you think is eligible for the program, you can obtain a “Work Release Application” at the detention center.