There are several craft shops on the Allred Unit where selected offenders create a wide variety of items for employees and area law enforcement agencies and officers. The offerings include leather gear for correctional officers, jewelry, paintings, pencil art, purses, boots, doll houses, saddles and just about anything else you can think of.
If you can provide a photo or drawing of something, there’s an offender who can build it for you. Furniture refinishing is also a popular service offered by offenders skilled in woodworking. The prices are very reasonable and the proceeds go to the individual offender’s commissary account. I had my 2011 Christmas shopping done before summer was over!
Area law enforcement personnel are allowed to have items custom-made. Everything from full leather gear, to badges, plaques and other insignia are created-to-order.
Weekend visitors can also purchase selected items from a display case in 13-Building. They’re limited to whatever is on display and cannot make special orders. There’s usually a nice selection of “koozies”, purses, bracelets, clocks, jewelry boxes and other gadgets.
Many items are emblazoned with the likeness of a well-known celebrity, or the logo of a sports team, or a famous motorcycle manufacturer. I saw a pencil drawing of Willie Nelson in one of the craft shops that was so realistic, I thought it was going to start talking!
I just wonder if the Allred Unit is sending a check to those whose logos and likenesses are being used for profit?
Maynard