seems to me this has been the story of the whole Katrina disaster, lack of communication on all levels.

There is so much debris all along the roads that this is a wonderful service that the inmates are providing. Later, when the Bay St. Louis officials get their list together then they can perform more services. I would certainly think that these city leaders won't let a good thing slip away!

Just another example of the incompetence in city government in Bay-Waveland!

Certainly hope that some of the inmates will be used to work on the animal shelter in Waveland. I have heard that it is really in a miserable condition and the employees have done all they can but yet they all suffer so much.

our leadership is sooo good on all levels....is'nt it? ...VOTE!!!!

It seems the devestated regions of Mississippi could easily be rebuilt. Perhaps the city government should be entirely replaced with more capable leaders and decision-makers.

Many inmates would love to have the opportunity to be out working, helping in their community, doing something good & constructive for a change. Leave it to the politicians to find a way to foul up the offer of help from the corrections department!

These inmates are an assest, use them they will get the job done. Inmate labor is used in my state all the time. Gives them a sense of pride... The City needs to get thier plan together fast and stop wasting time.

Will these inmates get GOOD TIME off for helping. The state inmates at the Hinds county penal farm were promised GOOD TIME by the Govenor for working with the refugees after Katrina but not all have received it. Seems someone there doesn't feel like doing the paperwork so these guys that helped out can get out.

It appears to me, that city, and state government are just as incompetant in these areas as the federal government. You would think that these polititions living in the region would have been better prepared.

One word that sticks out is liability. Seems to me that in this day and age the legal system has crippled us even at this level with no apparent system to void liability claims. If the state wasn't open to large law suits, then maybe they would move faster to get whatever help they could. All it takes is one mistake. So is letting them work worth the risk of a resident not being able to sue? Or should we put up with slow response to cover all the mine fields built into our legal system?

Years ago while a Sociology student, I wrote a paper on using Prison Labor for many State projects. Bulidings & Roads was Primary area. I attended a Corrections Class at Ft. Leavenworth through the University of Kansas Sociolgy Program and many Inmates then said having to do something meaningful on a Daily basis would mean alot to their Self Worth & Self Esteem. Most of these Inmates did wrong by Societys standards but it doesn't mean they can't contribute or wont contribute to doing something good for their State & Community.
In reading about the Mississippi Coreections Dept. offerring their Inmates for the Katrina disaster areas in Miss. I can't beleive these City Officials haven't gotten their Planning done. You keep waiting on FEMA & Bush & you'll end up like New Orleans, losing your Population, if you haven't already.
Use these Inmate People. Like the Miss. Corrections Dept Head said, He's already recruited the Inmates with the right Skills Set needed to help rebuild your Community. With a little bit of TRUST & FAITH, these guys will do a Great Job for your State of Miss. & your Local Communitites. It will mean just as much to them as it will for the Folks in these Communities.

Perfect example of simplified thinking. Just get a bunch of inmates and have them do SOMETHING. Yeah, right. Making headlines is easy - intellegent planning isn't. Same applies to Red Cross & FEMA. It's complicated, people.

I like it when they say"we're waiting for a list". We're waiting.... Those words in this situation is ridiculous. Thats as bad as FEMA saying "we're waiting to see how the local government is going to react to this hurricane". Almost as stupid as the govener saying "we'll wait to see what FEMA is goin to do". Time to stop the waiting peolpe and act. Whats the worst that could happen???? Something gets done?? Act, don't react. Those inmates with the specialty skills are just sitting in jail. They are "waiting" to pay back a society they harmed, help them pay. There seems a lot of resources that are "waiting" to be utilized...

i agree with everyone's comments about the lack of decent people in office."at all levels"
politics seem to draw the worst people.
its almost like you need to be shady/lazy and have criminal tendencies to even want to run for office.

what a great story this could be if it were not for some official dragging his feet as usual. did u delay as long before u outsourced the work to foreign workers, our citizens are right here, ready and willing to help. Come on, what r u waiting on!!!

Im surprised that no one has been able to blame President Bush for yet another Mississippi, Lousiana lack of internal government issue. In 1999 when Floyd devasted North Carolina we had the same issues. However, we handled it as we lived it-the best we could. Guess what! It all worked out. We had families living in trailers years, and years. We were glad just to have somewhere to live. When you get something for nothing it is not going to be the Ritz hotel accommodations.

Here's a good idea to help the poor and homless and unemployed in these areas -- ARREST THEM! Gives 'em a place to live and useful work... OF COURSE I'm joking! But I wouldn't be surprised if someone came along who wasn't; expect to see a lot of "unpaid" [that is, "slave labor"] work gangs in the near future.

Seems to me at election time we need to learn to vote in People with competent skills - NOT Politicians! Not the richest guy, not the one wih the political background, not the one in the song and dance hat and certainly not the son of a past politician! The one good thing I can see coming out of all the MS and LA disaster mess is this: there will be an entire generation of people that will be much more self-reliant and self-sufficient than any generation we have seen in this country in a long long time.

Non-violent criminal should be allowed to work on the reconstruction project. It would help them reestablish a sense of belonging and the help is much needed.

I live in California but I did go through Hurricane George in 1998 (we were passing through Gulf Port). I can only imagine the horrible devastation you are all suffering after Katrina (George was nothing in comparison).My heart goes out to all of you.I think it is ridiculous that the clean-up / rebuilding is going so slow! Use ALL the resources available and get the job done!! Inmates have families that suffered from this disaster - let them help rebuild!

Hope the city big wigs get it together, labor isn't always free.

Sounds like a huge problem...that should be solved fairly easily if the leaders would just buckle down and get it done. This isn't about inmates getting good time or who's doing or not doing their job properly or even elections...it's about getting a battered community up off the floor and back to some semblance of where it was prior to Katrina. Sometimes a bad decision is better than no decision at all folks...get it moving!

I see the idea if slavery has has not lost any steam sice the good ole days of Mr. Lincoln. There are many people who would love to have jobs in carpentry and construction and many other areas related to house building. For some reason americans want to use inmate(slave) labor or illegal immigrants(almost slave labor) instead of paying americans who are willing to work hard in the rebuilding effort a fair price.
some things never change

As my heart goes out to all those affected I do agree with a few points referenced on various subjects. #1. As this tragedy has shown us that it does not matter how much money you have in this world, it still comes down to who you know. Everything is politics. #2. Voting is a live saving tool, no one can guarantee the competency of another. But like Michelle from Alabama stated it is time for serious change in our govt. On city, state, and definitely the Fed level. We can complain about the lack of good government but we either voted for them, voted against them, or did not vote at all. These are the reasons that those incompetent, lazy, morons, are the exact same people we are looking to help. More action is needed from all of us. It is time for common-folk, hard-working, down to earth people to start taking back our country. Good luck to everyone