A prison work farm for Adams County may be a step closer to reality.

Adams County Supervisor and Extension Service Director David Carter suggested earlier this week that such a facility could be located behind the Adams County Extension Service office.

A prison work farm for the county has a number of supporters, among them Justice Court Judge Charlie Vess, who in part sees the farm as a way those serving sentences for crimes can “work off” court fines and fees.

Vess said the county has millions of dollars in unpaid court fees that it has little hope of ever recouping.

Couple that thought with the continued decrease of state and federal funds for things such as trash pick up and grass cutting on roadways and putting prisoners to work at a prison farm makes sense.

Vess takes his prison work farm idea further by suggesting the county could hire a retired teacher to provide GED and other needed educational instruction to prisoners in the evenings.

One obstacle to establishing such a farm has been where it could be located. With a new suggested location on the table, perhaps now is the time to revisit the work farm idea.

Carter suggested Supervisor Calvin Butler, who has been a proponent of such a prison work farm, take the lead on the project.

We hope someone will. A prison work farm seems to be a win-win for prisoners and for law-abiding citizens of Adams County.