The Center for Children's Justice - Pennsylvania Chapter


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Hon. Gerald J. LaValle
Senate Box 203047
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3047
(717) 787-3076

 
December 18, 2003
 
Dear Senator LaValle:
 
Recently, I had the unique opportunity of conducting phone interviews with several inmates who were on a work-release program at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility, Norristown, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. A few concerns arose from these interviews.
 
To the best of my understanding, one of the major employers of this program is J.P. Mascaro, a sanitation collection enterprise. Inmates are required to sign a waiver to any claims of Workman's Compensation in order to be gainfully employed with Mascaro.
 
One inmate reported that he injured his back and shoulder when one arm slipped as the truck went through a bend at a high rate of speed. This inmate received two weeks of physical therapy, was released from physical therapy, and was discharged by this employer. His injuries still exist. As no diagnostic tests were done, the extent of his injuries remain unknown.
 
Mascaro pays inmates as though they are contractors. An inmate's pay is a daily rate, depending on the route. The daily routes are one of the following: $50, $65, $75, and $80. The inmates appear to always work more than 8 hours a day, and 6 days a week.
 
Another issue with this employer is safety. All employees, regular or inmate, are not permitted to ride outside on the truck when the truck is traveling greater than 10 mph. Several inmates reported being treated differently than regular employees, and rode outside on the garbage truck at high rates of speed. Not all inmates received proper safety equipment. Many had to wear cloth gloves instead of rubberized, which exposed them to the elements (wet, cold) and bacterial agents.
 
In summary, there appears to be three major concerns for which raises the following questions:
 
(1) Can an inmate on a work-release program sign-off his rights to workman's compensation?
 
(2) Is it appropriate for an inmate to be treated as a contractor, thereby relinquishing overtime pay?
 
(3) Are there laws to protect inmates from unsafe working conditions?
These are questions and allegations made to me by several inmates, for which I have no factual knowledge. However, in my mind, there appears to be major problems which should be addressed.
 
Thank you for your consideration of these concerns. Please feel free to call me should you have any questions. I look forward your response.
 
Yours truly,
 
/s/
 
Jay H. Todd Jr.
65F Midland Heights
Midland, PA 15059
H 724-643-9219
C 724-622-6268
 

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This web site is strictly for your information about what is happening in our state; Pennsylvania.  Information and opinions on this website are NOT "legal" advice but ARE friendly advice from people who have been through the local domestic relations office and are very familiar with the crimes against humanity that office is getting away with strictly for PROFIT at the expense of fathers and their children.  Feel free to copy and repost any information on this site unless said information is credited to a web site other than Pennsylvania Family Court Reform (this website).  In this case, you must ask permission from the author, and since it's been our experience that most of the people that support our cause are good people, they most likely won't have a problem with it.  It's time to reclaim our state and our rights as Americans that are being trampled and ignored by a select portion of our state government, who's sole interest is PROFIT from federal grants for "child support" collection, at our expense... our JUDICIAL branch.