Work release plan for prison inmates
Wis. Stat. § 303.065
in effect(1)
(a) Except as provided in par. (b), the department may grant work release privileges to any person incarcerated within the state prisons.
(b)
1. A person serving a life sentence, other than a life sentence specified in subd. 2., may be considered for work release only after he or she has reached parole eligibility under s. 304.06 (1) (b) or 973.014 (1) (a) or (b), whichever is applicable, or he or she has reached his or her extended supervision eligibility date under s. 302.114 (9) (am) or 973.014 (1g) (a) 1. or 2., whichever is applicable.
2. A person serving a life sentence under s. 939.62 (2m) (c), 948.051 (1) (b) or (2) (b), or 973.014 (1) (c) or (1g) (a) 3. may not be considered for work release.
(2) The department shall promulgate rules for the administration of the work release program and shall determine those inmates who may participate in the plan. If any inmate violates the conditions prescribed by the institution, his or her work release privileges may be withdrawn. Failure to report to or return from the planned employment shall be considered an escape under s. 946.42 (3) (a). The department may approve as work release privileges placement in universities, colleges, technical, vocational or trade schools or in sheltered workshops or training programs designed to improve the skills and ability of the inmate.
(2m) The department may not grant work release privileges to a prisoner who is imprisoned for a violation of s. 346.63 (1), (2), (5) or (6) and who fails to obtain the assessment or to comply with the driver safety plan ordered under s. 343.30 (1q) (c) related to the violation for which he or she was imprisoned. This subsection does not apply if the prisoner does not have sufficient funds to make any payments necessary to obtain the assessment or to comply with the driver safety plan.
(3) The department shall designate and adapt facilities of the state prisons for the purpose of quartering inmates with work release privileges or it may arrange and contract for other facilities, including portions of county jails for inmates employed in the area. An inmate with work release privileges placed in facilities outside a state prison shall be liable for the cost of the inmate’s room, board, clothing and other necessary expenses incident to the inmate’s employment or placement unless other means of payment are approved by the department. No inmate shall be granted work release privileges until such suitable quarters have been provided in the area of accepted or proffered employment, or educational or training placement.
(4)
(a) Every inmate gainfully employed under a work release program shall be liable for the cost of the inmate’s board and clothing, a reasonable room charge as determined by the department, and for any expenses incident to such employment or additional living expenses as circumstances permit, in the judgment of the department, except as provided in sub. (3). When quartered in a prison facility, such costs and expenses shall be fixed by the department.
(b) The wages of inmates gainfully employed shall be collected by the prison responsible for his or her care. The wages are not subject to garnishment either in the hands of the employer or the prison during the inmate’s term and shall be disbursed only as provided in this section, but for tax purposes they are income of the prisoner. This paragraph does not apply to wages of inmates participating in the intensive sanctions program.
(5) The salaries or wages of any employed inmates shall be disbursed by the department in the order stated:
(a) The board of the prisoner including food and clothing and any fee charged under s. 301.135;
(b) Necessary travel expense to and from work and other incidental expenses of the prisoner;
(bn) Payment of the crime victim and witness assistance surcharge under s. 973.045 (4);
(bp) Payment of the deoxyribonucleic acid analysis surcharge under s. 973.046 (4);
(c) Support of the prisoner’s dependents, if any;
(cg) Payment of the child pornography surcharge under s. 973.042.
(cm) Payment of the drug offender diversion surcharge under s. 973.043.
(d) A reasonable room charge as determined by the department;
(dm) Payment for legal representation under s. 977.075 or 977.076;
(e) Payment, either in full or ratably, of the prisoner’s obligations acknowledged by the prisoner in writing or which have been reduced to judgment;
(f) The balance, if any, to the prisoner upon the prisoner’s discharge.
(6) The department shall credit all moneys that it collects under sub. (5) (a) and (d) to the appropriation account under s. 20.410 (1) (gi).
(7) The department may receive payments for its costs under this section or the department or the attorney general may collect under s. 301.325, but the state may not collect for the same expense twice.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/303.065Fetched: 10/7/2026