ABILENE (AP) – Officials say work crew programs for inmates in a West Texas jail are shrinking.

Inmates in Taylor County Jail in Abilene don’t want to do manual labor. Historically non-violent offenders have used the programs to work off sentence time.

Sheriff Les Bruce attributes the inmates disinterest to shorter sentences and a faster transfer rate to state prisons.

The programs have provided the county cost-saving maintenance work, landscaping and trash pick-up.

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