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PAROLES AND WORK RELEASE

Iowa Code tit. XVI, ch. 906
in effect

Iowa Code § 906.1 Definitions of parole and work release — temporary assignment to director.

906.1. Definitions of parole and work release — temporary assignment to director. 1. a. “Parole” is the release of a person who has been committed to the custody of the director of the Iowa department of corrections by reason of the person’s commission of a public offense, which release occurs prior to the expiration of the person’s term, is subject to supervision by the district department of correctional services, and is on conditions imposed by the district department. b. “Work release” is the release of a person, who has been committed to the custody of the director of the Iowa department of corrections, pursuant to sections 904.901 through 904.909. 2. A person who has been released on parole or work release may be temporarily assigned to the supervision of the director of the department of corrections as a result of placement in a violator facility established pursuant to section 904.207. [C79, 81, §906.1] 83 Acts, ch 96, §143, 159; 86 Acts, ch 1245, §1518; 93 Acts, ch 46, §10; 2018 Acts, ch 1041, §118

Iowa Code § 906.2 Parole officers.

906.2. Parole officers. Parole officers, while performing their duties as parole officers, are peace officers and have all the powers and authority of peace officers. Parole officers shall investigate all persons referred to them for investigation by the chief parole officer to which they may be assigned or by the director of a judicial district department of correctional services. They shall furnish to each person released under their supervision a written statement of conditions. They shall keep informed of each person’s conduct and condition and shall use all suitable methods to aid and encourage the person to bring about improvement in the person’s conduct or condition. Parole officers shall keep records of their work, make reports as required, and perform other duties as may be assigned to them by the chief parole officer or the director of a judicial district department of correctional services. They shall coordinate their work with that of other social welfare agencies which offer services of a corrective nature operating in the area to which they are assigned. [S13, §5447-a, 5718-a19, -a26; C24, 27, §3793, 3804; C31, 35, §3793, 3803-c1, 3804; C39, §3793, 3803.1, 3804; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §247.13, 247.24, 247.25; C79, 81, §906.2] 84 Acts, ch 1019, §3

Iowa Code § 906.3 Duties of parole board.

906.3. Duties of parole board. The board of parole shall adopt rules regarding a system of paroles from correctional institutions, and shall direct, control, and supervise the administration of the system of paroles. The board of parole shall consult with the director of the department of corrections on rules regarding a system of work release and shall assist in the direction, control, and supervision of the work release system. The board shall determine which of those persons who have been committed to the custody of the director of the Iowa department of corrections, by reason of their conviction of a public offense, shall be released on parole or work release. The grant or denial of parole or work release is not a contested case as defined in section 17A.2. [S13, §5718-a18; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §3786, 3787; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §247.5, 247.6; C79, 81, §906.3] 83 Acts, ch 96, §144, 159; 86 Acts, ch 1245, §1519 Parole board, chapter 904A

Iowa Code § 906.4 Standards for release on parole or work release — community service — academic achievement.

906.4. Standards for release on parole or work release — community service — academic achievement. 1. A parole or work release shall be ordered only for the best interest of society and the offender, not as an award of clemency. The board shall release on parole or work release any person whom it has the power to so release, when in its opinion there is reasonable probability that the person can be released without detriment to the community or to the person. A person’s release is not a detriment to the community or the person if the person is able and willing to fulfill the obligations of a law-abiding citizen, in the board’s determination. 2. a. A person on parole or work release who is serving a sentence under section 902.12 shall begin parole or work release in a residential facility operated by a judicial district department of correctional services. b. A person paroled who has a detainer lodged against the person under the provisions of chapter 821 may be paroled directly to the receiving state rather than to a residential facility operated by a judicial district department of correctional services in this state. 3. a. The board may order the defendant to provide a physical specimen to be submitted for DNA profiling as a condition of parole or work release, if a DNA profile has not been previously conducted pursuant to chapter 81. In determining the appropriateness of ordering DNA profiling, the board shall consider the deterrent effect of DNA profiling, the likelihood of repeated offenses by the defendant, and the seriousness of the offense. b. The board may establish as a condition of a person’s parole or work release that the person perform a specified number of hours of unpaid community service. The board shall not make community service a uniform or mandatory requirement for all or substantially all parolees or work release inmates but shall exercise discretion in ordering community service as a condition of parole or work release. The board shall report to the general assembly on the implementation of community service as a condition of parole or work release. The report shall be submitted on or before January 1, 1991. c. The board may, effective July 1, 1997, subject to such exceptions as may be deemed necessary by the board, require each inmate who is physically and mentally capable to demonstrate functional literacy competence at or above the sixth grade level or make progress towards completion of the requirements for a high school equivalency diploma under chapter 259A prior to release of the inmate on parole or work release. [C79, 81, §906.4] 86 Acts, ch 1245, §1520; 89 Acts, ch 156, §3; 90 Acts, ch 1251, §68; 95 Acts, ch 179, §2; 2000 Acts, ch 1122, §4; 2003 Acts, ch 156, §16; 2005 Acts, ch 158, §15, 19; 2010 Acts, ch 1066, §1

Iowa Code § 906.5 Record reviewed — rules.

906.5. Record reviewed — rules. 1. a. The board shall establish and implement a plan by which the board systematically reviews the status of each person who has been committed to the custody of the director of the Iowa department of corrections and considers the person’s prospects for parole or work release. The board at least annually shall review the status of a person other than a class “A” felon, a class “B” felon serving a sentence of more than twenty-five years, or a felon serving a mandatory minimum sentence other than a class “A” felon, and provide the person with notice of the board’s parole or work release decision. b. Not less than twenty days prior to conducting a hearing at which the board will interview the person, the board shall notify the department of corrections of the scheduling of the interview, and the department shall make the person available to the board at the person’s institutional residence as scheduled in the notice. However, if health, safety, or security conditions require moving the person to another institution or facility prior to the scheduled interview, the department of corrections shall so notify the board. 2. It is the intent of the general assembly that the board shall implement a plan of early release in an effort to assist in controlling the prison population and assuring prison space for the confinement of offenders whose release would be detrimental to the citizens of this state. The board shall report to the legislative services agency on a monthly basis concerning the implementation of this plan and the number of inmates paroled pursuant to this plan and the average length of stay of those paroled. 3. At the time of a review conducted under this section, the board shall consider all pertinent information regarding the person, including the circumstances of the person’s offense, any presentence report which is available, the previous social history and criminal record of the person, the person’s conduct, work, and attitude in prison, and the reports of physical and mental examinations that have been made. 4. A person while on parole or work release is under the supervision of the district department of correctional services of the district designated by the board of parole. The department of corrections shall prescribe rules for governing persons on parole or work release. The board may adopt other rules not inconsistent with the rules of the department of corrections as the board deems proper or necessary for the performance of its functions. [S13, §5718-a18; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §3787, 3790; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §247.6, 247.9; C79, 81, §906.5] 83 Acts, ch 96, §145, 159; 83 Acts, ch 147, §12, 14; 85 Acts, ch 21, §52; 86 Acts, ch 1245, §1521; 87 Acts, ch 118, §8; 88 Acts, ch 1091, §4; 89 Acts, ch 282, §8; 90 Acts, ch 1251, §69; 93 Acts, ch 98, §2, 3; 99 Acts, ch 12, §19; 2003 Acts, ch 35, §45, 49; 2013 Acts, ch 30, §229; 2023 Acts, ch 86, §13

Iowa Code § 906.6 Cooperation of correction personnel.

906.6. Cooperation of correction personnel. All persons employed in a correctional institution shall grant to the members of the board of parole, or its properly accredited representatives, access at all reasonable times to any person over whom the board has jurisdiction, shall provide for the board or its representatives facilities for communicating with and observing the person, and shall furnish to the board reports the board requires concerning the conduct and character of any person in their custody and any other facts deemed by the board pertinent in determining whether the person shall be released on parole or work release. [S13, §5718-a19, -a26; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §3793; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §247.13; C79, 81, §906.6] 86 Acts, ch 1245, §1522

Iowa Code § 906.7 Information from other sources — written statements.

906.7. Information from other sources — written statements. The board shall not be required to hear oral statements or arguments either by attorneys or other persons. All persons presenting information or arguments to the board shall put their statements in writing, and shall submit therewith an affidavit stating whether any fee has been paid or is to be paid for their services in the case, and by whom such fee is paid or to be paid. [C79, 81, §906.7]

Iowa Code § 906.8 Subpoena powers.

906.8. Subpoena powers. The board shall have power to issue subpoenas requiring the attendance of such witnesses and the production of such records, books, papers and documents as it may deem necessary for investigation of the case of any person before it. Subpoenas so issued may be served by any peace officer, in the same manner as similar processes in the district court. Any person who testifies falsely or fails to appear when subpoenaed, or fails or refuses to produce such material pursuant to the subpoena, shall be subject to the same orders and penalties to which a person before a court is subject. Any district court in this state, upon application of the board, may compel the attendance of witnesses, the production of such material, and the giving of testimony before the board, by an attachment for contempt or otherwise in the same manner as production of evidence may be compelled before such district court. [C79, 81, §906.8]

Iowa Code § 906.9 Clothing, transportation, and money.

906.9. Clothing, transportation, and money. 1. When an inmate is discharged, paroled, or placed on work release, the warden or superintendent shall furnish the inmate, at state expense, appropriate clothing and transportation to the place in this state indicated in the inmate’s discharge, parole, or work release plan. When an inmate is discharged, paroled, or placed on work release, the warden or superintendent shall provide the inmate, at state expense or through inmate savings as provided in section 904.508, money in accordance with the following schedule: a. Upon discharge or parole, one hundred dollars. b. Upon being placed on work release, fifty dollars. 2. Those inmates receiving payment under subsection 1, paragraph “b”, shall not be eligible for payment under subsection 1, paragraph “a”, unless they are returned to the institution. An inmate shall only be eligible to receive one payment under this section during any twelve-month period. The warden or superintendent shall maintain an account of all funds expended pursuant to this section. [C51, §3150; R60, §5163; C73, §4779; C97, §5684; S13, §5718-a22; SS15, §2713-n14; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §3737, 3779, 3796; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, §245.14, 246.44, 247.16; C77, §245.14, 246.44; C79, 81, §906.9] 87 Acts, ch 118, §9; 90 Acts, ch 1251, §70; 91 Acts, ch 219, §24; 93 Acts, ch 46, §11; 2013 Acts, ch 30, §230

Iowa Code § 906.11 Assignment to parole officer.

906.11. Assignment to parole officer. A person released on parole shall be assigned to a parole officer by the director of the judicial district department of correctional services. Both the person and the person’s parole officer shall be furnished in writing with the conditions of parole including a copy of the plan of restitution and the restitution plan of payment, if any, and the regulations which the person will be required to observe. The parole officer shall explain these conditions and regulations to the person, and supervise, assist, and counsel the person during the term of the person’s parole. [C79, 81, §906.11; 82 Acts, ch 1162, §11, 14] 83 Acts, ch 96, §147, 159 Restitution, chapter 910

Iowa Code § 906.12 Parole outside state authorized.

906.12. Parole outside state authorized. The parole may be to a place outside the state when the board of parole shall determine it to be to the best interest of the state and the prisoner, under such rules as the board of parole may impose. [S13, §5718-a18; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §3786; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §247.5; C79, 81, §906.12]

Iowa Code § 906.13 Reciprocal agreements with other states.

906.13. Reciprocal agreements with other states. The governor of the state of Iowa is hereby authorized and empowered to enter into compacts and agreements with other states, through their duly constituted authorities, in reference to reciprocal supervision of persons on parole or probation and for the reciprocal return of such persons to the contracting states for violation of the terms of their parole or probation. [C39, §3790.1; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §247.10; C79, 81, §906.13]

Iowa Code § 906.14 Detainers.

906.14. Detainers. 1. Prisoners against whom detainers have been filed may, after serving a portion of their sentence, be released by parole to the institution or authorities filing the detainer. 2. Any detainer filed against a prisoner must within six months be supported by a grand jury indictment or county attorney’s information. In the event such indictment is returned or information is filed, the prisoner shall have the right to demand immediate trial at the next term of court where the charge is filed. The prosecuting agency shall pay all costs of transportation, necessary expenses incurred by the prisoner, and such guards and other safety measures as the warden shall deem necessary for the prisoner to appear at the prisoner’s trial. 3. In the event a detainer is not supported within six months by a county attorney’s information or grand jury indictment, or in the event the prosecuting agency refuses or fails to give the prisoner immediate trial, or refuses or fails to furnish transportation and pay all other necessary and related costs incident to the prisoner appearing at the prisoner’s trial, the detainer shall be held to be invalid and the parole board shall disregard such detainer in considering a prisoner for parole. [C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §247.5; C79, 81, §906.14] 2018 Acts, ch 1041, §127 See chapter 821

Iowa Code § 906.15 Discharge from parole.

906.15. Discharge from parole. 1. Unless sooner discharged, a person released on parole shall be discharged when the person’s term of parole equals the period of imprisonment specified in the person’s sentence, less all time served in confinement. Discharge from parole may be granted prior to such time, when an early discharge is appropriate. The board shall periodically review all paroles, and when the board determines that any person on parole is able and willing to fulfill the obligations of a law-abiding citizen without further supervision, the board shall discharge the person from parole. A parole officer shall periodically review all paroles assigned to the parole officer, and when the parole officer determines that any person assigned to the officer is able and willing to fulfill the obligations of a law-abiding citizen without further supervision, the officer may discharge the person from parole after notification and approval of the district director and notification of the board of parole. In any event, discharge from parole shall terminate the person’s sentence. If a person has been sentenced to a special sentence under section 903B.1 or 903B.2, the person may be discharged early from the sentence in the same manner as any other person on parole. However, a person convicted of a violation of section 709.3, 709.4, or 709.8 committed on or with a child, or a person serving a sentence under section 902.12, shall not be discharged from parole until the person’s term of parole equals the period of imprisonment specified in the person’s sentence, less all time served in confinement. 2. A parole officer or the district director who acts in compliance with this section is acting in the course of the person’s official duty and is not personally liable, either civilly or criminally, for the acts of a person discharged from parole by the officer after such discharge, unless the discharge constitutes willful disregard of the person’s duty. [C62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §247.5; C79, 81, §906.15] 86 Acts, ch 1005, §1; 90 Acts, ch 1251, §71; 2004 Acts, ch 1150, §2; 2005 Acts, ch 158, §42; 2018 Acts, ch 1041, §127

Iowa Code § 906.16 Parole or work release time applied.

906.16. Parole or work release time applied. 1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the time when a prisoner is on parole or work release from the institution shall apply to the sentence against the parolee or work releasee. 2. If a parole revocation hearing is held, the administrative parole judge or the board of parole shall determine the amount of time on parole that shall apply to the sentence against the parolee. In making the determination, the administrative parole judge or the board of parole shall apply any time that has elapsed prior to the violation during which the parolee was in compliance with the terms of the person’s parole. 3. If a work release is revoked, the board of parole shall determine the amount of time on work release that shall apply to the sentence against the work releasee. In making the determination, the board shall apply any time that has elapsed prior to the violation during which the work releasee was in compliance with the terms of the person’s work release. 4. The time when a prisoner is absent from the institution by reason of an escape shall not apply upon the sentence against the prisoner. [S13, §5718-a18; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §3792; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §247.12; C79, 81, §906.16] 86 Acts, ch 1245, §1523; 88 Acts, ch 1091, §5; 94 Acts, ch 1048, §1; 97 Acts, ch 125, §12; 98 Acts, ch 1197, §9, 13; 2000 Acts, ch 1177, §4, 5

Iowa Code § 906.17 Alleged parole violators — temporary confinement by counties — reimbursement.

906.17. Alleged parole violators — temporary confinement by counties — reimbursement. 1. Upon request by the Iowa department of corrections a county shall provide temporary confinement for alleged parole violators if space is available. 2. The Iowa department of corrections shall reimburse a county for the temporary confinement of alleged parole violators. The amount to be reimbursed shall be determined by multiplying the number of days confined by the average daily cost of confining a person in the county facility as negotiated by the department. Payment shall be made upon submission of a voucher executed by the sheriff and approved by the director of the Iowa department of corrections. 3. Any request for reimbursement under subsection 2 shall be made within thirty days of the end of a calendar quarter. If a request for reimbursement is not made within thirty days of the end of the calendar quarter, the request shall be denied by the department of corrections. [C79, 81, §906.17] 83 Acts, ch 96, §148, 159; 83 Acts, ch 123, §204, 209; 84 Acts, ch 1244, §5; 2006 Acts, ch 1183, §28; 2012 Acts, ch 1030, §3

Iowa Code § 906.18 Parole violators — reimbursement to department.

906.18. Parole violators — reimbursement to department. The department of corrections shall arrange for the return of parolees who escape from the facility to which they are assigned or violate the conditions of supervision. The parolee shall reimburse the department of corrections for the costs incurred because of the escape or violation. The amount of reimbursement shall be the actual cost incurred by the department, and shall be credited to the support account from which the billing occurred. The department shall adopt rules to implement this section. 96 Acts, ch 1165, §4

Iowa Code § 906.19 Certificates of employability.

906.19. Certificates of employability. 1. As used in this section, “person” means a person on parole or a person who is no longer on parole but is currently unemployed or underemployed. 2. The board shall develop and implement a certificate of employability program. The certificate program shall be developed to maximize the opportunities for rehabilitation and employability of a person and provide protection of the community, while considering the needs of potential employers. 3. Issuance of a certificate of employability pursuant to the program shall be based upon the successful completion of designated programs and other relevant factors determined by the board. 4. A person required to register under chapter 692A shall be ineligible for the certificate of employability program. 5. The board shall develop and adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A for the implementation and administration of this section. 2008 Acts, ch 1180, §24
Source: Iowa Legislature (legis.iowa.gov)URL: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/law/iowaCode/sections?codeChapter=906&year=2026Fetched: 10/20/2026

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