Work Crew Program

1. All requesting parties must file a  Community-Service-Work-Crew-Request  with the BCSO. Completed forms can be mailed, faxed or emailed to the BCSO as set forth on the form. All requests for a BCSO Community Service Work Crew must be submitted in a timely fashion in order for the project to be approved by the BCSO. Applicants are urged to submit their requests as far in advance as possible as Work Crews are in high demand.
2. The BCSO will review your Request for approval and contact you if the Work Crew is available to provide the services requested.
3. Once approved, the Community Service Coordinator may contact you to schedule a site visit for project and materials review and scheduling.  No work can begin until the project is approved by the BCSO.
4. It is the agency/organization’s responsibility to contact the BCSO one week prior to project start to go over last minute logistics.

1. Hours:
   Inmate work crews leave the Barnstable County Correctional Facility in Bourne for project sites at 7:30 a.m. Monday through Friday and must return to the BCCF by 4:30 p.m. each day.
2. Site environment:
   Inmate work crews will leave any job site deemed unsafe or if inclement weather develops.
3. Rescheduling:
   The BCSO work crews consist of inmates and Deputy Sheriffs who work with and oversee the inmates on projects. At any time, with or without notice, a work crew may need to leave a work site, the project may be cancelled, or the project may be rescheduled due to BCSO security operations. The BCSO will do its best to adhere to project schedules but makes no guarantee that a project will be completed on time.
4. On site agency support:
   All agencies and organizations are required to provide a representative to be on the project site for the duration of the project to coordinate with our Deputy Sheriffs.
5. Supervision:
   Inmates are supervised by a trained BCSO Deputy Sheriff. At all times, BCSO Deputy Sheriffs keep inmates on a project site within sight and sound.
6. Expenses:
   All expenses including materials, building permits, meals provided, etc. related to a project must be borne by agency/organization requesting the BCSO inmate work crew.
7. Materials:
   All materials needed to complete the project must be on site before the start of project.
8. Permits:
   It is the requesting agency’s responsibility to obtain and pay for all state, town and federal permits and licenses that may be required for a project. The BCSO will not be responsible for compliance with local building codes.
9. Meals:
   Inmate work crews that are on project sites at 11:30 a.m. must be provided lunch by the requesting agency. The requesting agency/organization must pay for and deliver lunch (including drinks) for consumption by the work crew at the project site. Most agencies provide a takeout menu from a local sandwich shop to the Deputy Sheriff overseeing the inmates for them to make a lunch selection. In the event a work crew is on site beyond 4:00 p.m., dinner must be provided for the work crew.
10. Bathroom facilities:
    A bathroom must be available on site for use by the inmate work crew. Inmates are not allowed to enter private homes.
11. No children present:
    Inmates are prohibited from job sites where children are present. Projects may be done at a school during off hours or school vacation periods when children are not present.
12. Other than BCSO staff, no person is allowed to:
    A. Take pictures of inmates.
    B. Talk with an inmate about anything other than project specifics.
    C. Give anything to an inmate.
    D. Oversee or supervise an inmate.
13. The BCSO reserves the right to place a sign at the work site acknowledging the BCSO Community Service program. Any sign placed by the BCSO will be removed at the end of each day.

If an agency/organization desires to schedule an inmate work crew sooner than the availability of our usual community service work crew, they may opt to utilize a BCSO Community Service Paid Detail.

This option provides a Deputy Sheriff and inmate work crew to perform a job at a project site under the same parameters as set forth above, however, the agency/organization agrees to pay for the Deputy Sheriff’s services at the hourly detail rate for the current town police department (if your project is in Bourne, you would be billed the detail rate of a Bourne police officer for the hours worked by the Deputy Sheriff.)

No inmate labor will be charged. The requesting agency/organization must pay time and a half for the Deputy Sheriff’s services for any detail shift worked beyond 8 hours.

A bill for the detail will be sent directly to the agency/organization and must be paid within 30 days of receipt.

The requesting agency/organization assumes all responsibility for any liability that may arise relative to the work performed by the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office including the erection of any event tents provided by the BCSO.

Further, the requesting agency/organization agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office, its employees, inmates, agents, successors, and/or assigns, from any claims, actions, rights of action and causes of action, damages, costs, expenses and compensation from liability for any physical injuries or damages sustained to property which may occur as a result of any work performed or event tents erected by the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office, its employees or inmates.

Please click on the link below for the Barnstable County Sheriff's Office Work Crew Request Form:

• Work Crew Request Form