LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – A group of five inmates spent their day cleaning up a local park as part of the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office inmate work crew program.
The voluntary program allows participants to earn work credit while developing responsibility and teamwork skills. Officer Edward Gonzales, who supervises the crew, says the benefits extend far beyond keeping the community clean.
“To me, it shows determination and will for wanting to be a better person,” Gonzales said. “Some of these guys look up to us officers as mentors and that’s what I want to be to these guys.”
The program operates Monday through Friday, with inmates assisting at parks, warehouses and other county departments throughout Lubbock.
Sidney Estep, a veteran who has been at the Lubbock County Detention Center since July, joined the program after deciding he wanted to make a change in his life.
“I made some bad choices and I signed up to work so I could do my time and better myself,” Estep said.
Estep has participated in the program for four months, learning trades and skills he hopes to use after his release. The guidance he receives from supervisors has made a lasting impact.
“My boss, Mr. Rogers, he’s always on me about taking pride in your work and stuff like that,” Estep said. “He’s always on me about staying out of jail and striving to make a better person of myself.”
The program represents an opportunity for inmates to contribute positively to their community while preparing for successful reintegration after their release.
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