Prison Band Causing Controversy

Prisoners perform for the public in Sequatchie County as part of a Christian ministry aimed at rehabilitation.  The Sheriff there says singing the gospel hymns help the convicts become better people.  But we found out this prison band is striking a sour note with one family.

Marty Garrison says, "These people are in jail to be in jail, they are not supposed to be having a great time, and to be able to allowed out in public to put on a travelling road show is just wrong."

Garrison's son Michael was killed in an accident in 2006, when he was 18 years old.  The man convicted of vehicular homicide in his death is Andy Brickford.  Garrison says when she found out Brickford is singing and playing guitar for the group, called Free On The Inside, she was furious.  "My son that was killed played guitar and sung too, for the Lord, but he doesn't have a voice anymore, so what about the victims."

But Sheriff Ronnie Hitchcock says the program has only helped his inmates.  "They are Christians, they have professed Christ, we take them out and let them perform to the public and the public is very very excited about it."

At the senior center Wednesaday while the group performed, many in the audience were singing along and stomping their feet to the beat.

But Garrison says it's not just about what happened to her son, but what could happen to the public during these performances.  But Sheriff Ronnie Hitchcock says the prisoners must prove themselves before they're allowed out, and everyone here couldn't be safer.  He says they are all under a close watch when they're away from the jail.  Hitchcock says, "We look at each one's case independently and see what they charges are and make a decision whether they can go or if they are a danger to the public."

But Garrison is passionate about keeping convicts locked away.  "To hear that a cold hearted killer is out there entertaining the Sequatchie Valley is absolutely disgusting."

Hitchcock disagrees.  He says he's seen how this music makes a difference in these convicts' lives and how it brings harmony to his jail.  "We don't have fights in the back and cursing and what goes on in other jails, we have people back there doing bible studies, people singing."

The chaplain tells us the group sings every day during the jail's service, and whenever a church or organization requests them.

Sheriff Hitchcock says the group has been performing for several years and the program is free to taxpayers.

He says the jail also offers other programs to prisoners, like anger management, and parenting.  He adds that they never let sex offenders or violent criminals participate.