Idaho prison inmates are working to pay back their debt to society by helping keep Sage-Grouse off the endangered species list. Today 20 prisoners from the Idaho Correctional Center worked to help restore the bird's natural habitat after recent fires.
The inmates started sewing sagebrush seed back in April. They cared for the seed all summer and today they prepared the sagebrush to be planted on B.L.M land.
"It's a positive interaction with each other, with society. Think about it if a guy gets out of prison, he can actually drive to a part of the state and see the fruit of his labor," said Randy Blades, Warden of the Idaho State Correctional Center.
The Sagebrush and Prisons Project is collaboration between B.L.M., Idaho Department of Corrections, and coordination from institute for applied technology. The program is designed to provide hands on opportunities for inmates to give back to the community.
