Planting Prisoners?

Mobile County Sheriff Sam Cochran is discussing the possibility of starting an inmate landscaping program what will service local municipalities and non-profits in an effort to save taxpayers money and beautify the area. Last month, the Sheriff's Office conducted a trial run of the service. Cochran says it was a great success: "The inmate crew provided quality work and we were able to cut our costs by more than half." Officials are now proposing to make the service permanent, assigning an inmate work crew to specific landscaping and ground maintenance jobs around the county. Cochran admits the program is still in its early stages, but he champions the inmate landscaping service as a way to " help local businesses that wouldn’t otherwise have the funding or manpower to complete these grounds projects." He also adds, "This program will provide a way for inmates to learn valuable skills while contributing to the beautification of Mobile County."

What do you think about the Sheriff's proposal? Is it a good idea? Potentially dangerous? A good rehabilitating tool or a way for criminals to get around their jail sentences? Sound off in the comments section below.