APNewsBreak: Ohio governor says future of longtime inmate work program in jeopardy

APNewsBreak: Ohio inmate work program in jeopardy

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio governor’s office says the future of a program allowing inmates to work at the governor’s residence is in jeopardy.

Spokeswoman Amanda Wurst told The Associated Press on Friday that the decision of whether to continue the program depends on the finding of an external review ordered by Gov. Ted Strickland.

He suspended the program and announced the review Thursday after two inmates working at the mansion were found to have been drinking at the end of a work shift.

The program came under scrutiny this year after an aborted contraband sting at the residence.

Inmates were suspected of picking up tobacco drops there and smuggling them into prison. A report found that officials called off a planned sting to spare the Democratic governor political embarrassment.