PROBATION

Probation supervision is supervised release in the community for adjudicated offenders utilizing existing local resources for problem specific rehabilitative purposes.  Supervision emphasizes employment stability, victim restitution, community service sentencing, use of community resources, one-on-one counseling, and surveillance of the offender in the community.

PAROLE SUPERVISION

Parole supervision is provided for those offenders granted a parole by the Iowa Board of Parole either directly out of a state institution or paroled from Work Release.  Monitoring and treatment is provided in the community, with utilization of locally available resources.

PRE-TRIAL SERVICES

The Department established Pre-Trial Services in 1974.  Pre-Trial Services is an alternate to the bail bond system.  The Department offers interviews to arrestees that elicit social and criminal history in order to determine the arrestee’s ties to the community.  A recommendation for release is made to the court after an assessment is made of the arrestee’s likelihood to appear for further court appearances and refrain from further law violations.  In 1985 the Department established a Pre-Trial Intensive Program.  Each of these programs supervise arrestees until the disposition of their cases.

PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATION

Presentence Investigation is a report to the court of the criminal and social history of an individual who has been adjudicated guilty by a judge or jury, or who has pled guilty and is awaiting sentencing.  Because the court has considerable discretion in most sentencings, it relies on the report to provide an accurate and objective description of the individual’s background.  The report includes a proposed correctional plan to meet the needs of the offender and safeguard the public as well as a sentencing recommendation from the Department to the court.

RESIDENTIAL/WORK RELEASE FACILITIES

Residential facilities offer the court an alternative between street supervision and incarceration by providing a structured residential environment for both male and female offenders.  Facilities may also be designated as alternate jails thereby allowing certain jail inmates to serve their sentences at the facilities or reside prior to adjudication.  Contracts are also in effect to house offenders from the federal correctional system.   Work Release refers to post institutional “live-in” supervision of offenders who are on inmate work release status, providing a structured reintegration to the community prior to parole or discharge.  The duration of the program averages approximately four months with a one-year legal limit.

INTERSTATE COMPACT

The Interstate Compact is an agreement between member states, which allows for supervision of parole and probation cases to be transferred to other states.  Cases coming to Iowa are transferred via the Iowa Interstate Compact Administrators Office.  This District uses the compact to transfer district cases to other states as well as to receive supervision of cases originating in other states.  Standards for supervision of compact cases are the same as Iowa cases.

O.W.I.

The First Judicial District provides services to offenders sentenced under the provisions of the Code of Iowa, Section 321J and 905.513.  The district is required to contract for substance abuse counseling with a licensed substance abuse agency.  O.W.I. programming is offered at all residential facilities. 

MENTAL HEALTH/SUBSTANCE ABUSE 

The Department was awarded a Federal RSAT Grant July 1, 1998, to establish a Dual Diagnosed Offender Program in the Waterloo Residential Correctional Facility.  The program houses up to 16 male offenders for 6 to 12 months who have been diagnosed as having co-occurring substance abuse and mental disorders.  Treatment services are provided through contracts with local substance abuse and mental health agencies.  The Department was also awarded a grant to establish a re-entry program for mentally ill offenders incarcerated in prison or the county jail.  This program provides transitional case-management with community services including obtaining and maintaining entitlements, rent assistance, mental health treatment and medications, substance abuse assessment and treatment, medical services, employment counseling, education, and other services as needed.   

SEX OFFENDER TREATMENT

The Sex Offender Treatment Program consists of three components:  assessment, group therapy, and individual counseling.  A Department Psychologist conducts the assessments and groups are facilitated by Department staff that are trained and certified.  Polygraphs are used to verify offender reported information.  In addition to district-wide field services programs, sex offender programs are provided in the Waterloo Work Release, West Union Residential, and Dubuque Residential Facilities.

WOMEN OFFENDER PROGRAMMING