Local county now letting women inmates pick up trash on side of road

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

Women inmates at the Clark County Jail are being given the opportunity to pick up trash on the side of the road.

Previously, only men inmates were allowed to pick up trash while women inmates earned credit on their jail time by working in the laundry.

Clark County Sheriff Deb Burchett said gender roles are outdated and now the women inmates can labor on the side of the road, too.

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“We are picking up trash on the side of the highway to make Clark County look better,” inmate Jennifer Scott said. “We do I-70, Route 4 and sometimes when the weather is to0 bad we will go to the dog shelter and help out.”

Scott is a non-violent criminal who was sentenced to jail after a probation violation. She said getting out of the jail for a few hours can be a big morale booster.

“I think its a great opportunity for some of the girls,” she said. “I think it could be a way for women to change their lifestyle.”

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Scott said she has picked up a lot of beer cans and bottles on the side of the road and more clothes than she expected. The garbage on the side of the road is bad for the environment, Scott said, and an eye-sore for the county. Her experience picking up trash will lead to her being more thoughtful, she said.

“It is going to make me think twice before I throw stuff out my window,” she said.

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Overall, Scott said the goal is to get out as soon as possible and be a better person after the stay in jail.

“When we walk out of here we will change our lives and be productive members of society,” she said.

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