McKean County Sheriff Brad Mason has proposed the implementation of supervised chain gangs to assist in maintenance programs throughout the county.

Mason, who also serves as warden at the county jail in Smethport, believes the chain gangs would serve as a punishment to inmates, but also help with rehabilitation and act as a deterrent to them going back to prison.

“The planning is still in the early stages but in this program, like any other, we remain committed to care, custody and control for our prisoners and community,” said Mason on Thursday. “We currently have corrections officers that are more than qualified that can handle it, and as long as it is in the guidelines, we will push forward.”

Mason’s proposal will feature small groups of criminals, which do not qualify for community activity, being able to undertake various maintenance projects under the supervision of a trained corrections officer. Chain gangs would consist of four to five people and one armed corrections officer. The program is hoped to be implemented within the year.

“We are shooting for a way to get the inmates out to do some hard manual labor rather than sitting around watching TV,” said Mason. “If we get this going, hopefully it will keep them busy while they are here (at the McKean County Jail) and motivate them not to come back.”

Mason said the cost of the program would come from the hiring of extra armed guards and the purchase of high-tech GPS ankle bracelets for participating inmates. He also said the implementation of the project would provide free manual labor for maintenance on overgrown cemeteries and clean-up programs at local dumps and landfills, indirectly saving money.

The implementation of the high-tech chain gang would have to start under the premise that there would be no compromise of public safety whatsoever.

“I would never jeopardize the safety of the public,” said Mason.

The candidates for the chain gang would be inmates that have serious enough non-violent crimes who are not considered for any work release program. Physical and mental evaluations and screenings will take place for candidates enough that the chain gang would become a heavily supervised work release program.

“I like to see people working,” said Mason. “And if the inmates know they have to get out of bed at 6 a.m. and have to do manual labor all day, maybe they won’t want to come back after they get out.”

The proposal has not been sent to or overlooked by the county commissioners for approval.

Both Commissioner Judy Church and McKean County Commissioner Chairman Joe DeMott declined comment on the proposal Thursday afternoon until they each had an opportunity to fully brief themselves with the proper materials.

“There is a lot to address for this to work out,” said Mason. “We will need to work with the Department of Corrections to make sure everything is on the level so we don’t get the county in a jam.”

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