As general manager of Marlboro Auto Body in Upper Marlboro, Siddons oversees a work release program that teaches inmates from the Prince George’s Department of Corrections about the craft of bodywork, so they have work skills when released from custody.
Tell me about the Marlboro Auto Body Program.
We have three inmates right now. We started the program a few years ago. We actually go to the facility and pick them up in the morning. … We bring them to our facility and each inmate is mated up with a technician either in the body department or in the paint department or sometimes in the mechanical department. He will be under their tutelage as long as he’s with us. Our program is a six-month program.
What are the specific things the inmates do?
They do actual hands-on body repair. They take parts off the vehicles, put them back on, repair the parts that need to be repaired. They learn how to weld, they learn the basics of the bodywork. The painters, they learn how to sand, remove parts that need to be removed before painting, how to prep the cars for the priming and painting process. …
Are they paid?
They are not paid … but what we do is if they have completed at least six months of work in our program, we give them a complete set of tools — about $2,000 worth — with toolboxes.
Have some been hired after being released from custody?
Yes, we have. In fact we have one right now. He’s working part-time because he’s going to school.
Do they work well?
Yes. We have some good, some that are not as good. You don’t really don’t know until you have them here and watch what they do. … A lot of these guys actually turn out pretty good in this field.
– Alex Pappas
