The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office recently acquired additional equipment for the expansion of the county's Inmate Workforce Unit.

The expansion will increase the amount of work conducted by Loudoun County inmates on state, county and town property, and save county taxpayer money, according to Liz Mills, spokesperson for the sheriff's office.

The LCSO Corrections Division acquired two vans; two 60 inch grandstand mowers, two commercial push mowers, six string trimmers, two pole saws and an enclosed trailer.

The equipment used by the Sheriff’s Inmate Work Force, including mowers and weed eaters are purchased from the inmate canteen fund. This fund receives no tax money and is supported by the inmates’ purchases and telephone dividends.

The program has expanded the work force to 10 inmates and will ultimately expand up to 24 inmates. Two full-time sworn deputies manage the LCSO program and the assigned inmates.

“The inmate work force performs snow removal from county facilities, mows areas that used to be under commercial contract, and power-wash unsightly graffiti,” said Sheriff Mike Chapman in a statement. “The inmates are utilized to complete these tasks at no labor cost to the county.”

As the current work force facility closed and the expanded program moved to the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center in October 2012, a larger warehouse was needed to store equipment. Consequently, a new storage facility was constructed on a vacant portion of property to the rear of the ADC.

The Sheriff’s Inmate Work Force is comprised of non-violent minimum custody level inmates. They work in the community under an armed deputy. They perform landscaping; trash pickup along roadways, parks, and waterways; minor construction, painting and other numerous tasks. They work on state, county and town property as well as on the property of charitable organizations.