By: WCSO Staff
[West Boylston] – Over a decade ago, a newly elected Sheriff in Worcester County aimed to revive a program at the Worcester County Jail and House of Correction. That program not only honored the rich farming history of Massachusetts but also focused on modern methods of rehabilitating inmate populations.
Today, Sheriff Lew Evangelidis is proud of the program his staff has diligently worked to revive. The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Inmate Run Organic Farm program is thriving, and those in need throughout Worcester County have benefited from the program for years.
As part of the House of Corrections’ Work Release Program, qualified inmates are permitted to tend to the grounds of the facility, including the various farming fields. The produce harvested by inmate work crews benefits numerous organizations, such as local food banks, senior centers, soup kitchens, veteran groups, and other charitable organizations in Worcester County.
In addition to their contribution to the community, inmates benefit by gaining valuable work experience, learning agricultural skills, and having the opportunity to participate in meaningful daily activities that promote responsibility and discipline. Additionally, the harvested food is also provided to the inmate population within the facility.
“We are fortunate to have the land and the resources to support the Organic Farm program,” said Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis. “We have put in a lot of effort to develop this program to its current state. While we are always subject to the challenges posed by Mother Nature, we have addressed the obstacles to optimize the work of the farm team and the inmates in the Work Release program. Through this work, inmates gain job skills, confidence, and the dignity that comes from engaging in a full day’s work for the benefit of others.”
Inmates eligible to join the work-release program are classified as low-risk and non-violent. Those who qualify and opt to participate earn “good time” credits each month for their positive behavior and active involvement in programming. The time commitment varies depending on the workload and time of year, but typically, inmates work between 10 to 25 hours a week.
On the 18 acres of actively farmed land, zucchini, summer squash, cucumbers, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, cabbage, corn, watermelon, and pumpkins were bountiful through the first frost in October. It was estimated that approximately 35,000 pounds of fresh organic produce were harvested and distributed to community partners this year.
Since taking office in 2011, Sheriff Evangelidis has remained committed to developing the Organic Farm and being dedicated to the communities he represents. After multiple expansions of the farm under Evangelidis’ leadership, the Worcester County Jail boasts the largest organic farm on a correctional facility in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
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Sheriff Evangelidis and WCSO Lt. Travaglio pose with a mid-summer harvest of fresh organic produce.
