(a)
(1) If the county court or county judge thereof in vacation, or the mayor of any city or incorporated town, is unable to make a satisfactory contract with some county, city, or incorporated town, or if the contract does not necessarily, by its terms, cover all persons committed to jail to serve a sentence or in default of the payment of a fine and costs adjudged against him or her, in the county or city where the conviction is had, then the county court or county judge thereof may order the prisoners to be worked.
(2) The prisoners may be worked on the public roads, bridges, levees, or any other public improvement of the county or may perform any other lawful labor for the benefit of the county.
(b) The city or town council or the governing body of any municipality or the mayor thereof may order the prisoners worked on any public streets, alleys, public buildings, public parks, or any other public improvements of the city or may order them to perform any other lawful labor for the benefit of the city, under such rules and regulations not inconsistent with the provisions of this section or §§ 12-42-102 and 12-42-104 — 12-42-106, as the county court or county judge thereof, or the mayor and governing body of any municipality thereof may prescribe.