Center surpasses $1 million milestone

The Gadsden Times
January 19, 2009
 

ALABAMA - The Marshall County Community Corrections Center in Albertville is serving multiple purposes, including getting those who have strayed from the law back to being productive citizens and helping crime victims receive repayment for their losses. Recently, the center surpassed a major milestone. In its fifth year of existence, it has reached $1,002,929.98 in collections.

“It’s a huge accomplishment for us,” said director Nickie Bonds of surpassing the $1 million mark in the amount of money that has been collected from inmates to pay fines, court costs and victim restitution.

While the financial end is exciting, even more encouraging to Bonds and her assistants is returning wayward residents to community life.

“We’re giving everyone an option,” Bonds said.

“They can better themselves or stay in the same rut they’ve been in.”

The work-release facility was developed to house nonviolent offenders, offering the courts an alternative sentencing option for defendants besides incarcerating them. Without using taxpayers’ money, the facility helps offenders obtain and maintain jobs with local agencies. Their income is used to pay for their housing, weekly drug test, transportation, regular weekly payments on their fines and restitution.