Work Release

Scheduling Work Release Jail Time

Effective January 2023, all individuals ordered by the Courts to participate in Work Release who are 1) authorized for the GPS electronic monitoring program to work under home confinement or 2) those with documented medical exemptions authorized to serve time under the GPS electronic monitoring program or 3) those directed by the Courts to serve their time at the jail (in-custody). Scheduling a surrender date and the required work release interview will be done by contacting the Linn County Correctional Center (LCCC) at 319-892-6300.

Pursuant to Linn County court orders, individuals ordered to schedule time for work release or a documented medical exemption must call the Linn County Correctional Center at 319-892-6300 or present themselves in person at the Linn County Correctional Center, 53 3rd Avenue Bridge, Cedar Rapids Iowa. This must occur within fifteen (15) calendar days of the court order. Failure to schedule within fifteen (15) days of the court order may result in a warrant being issued for their immediate arrest. 

For more information related to serving time (location, allowable items to bring, visitation, telephone hours, commissary account, family emergency, etc.) see Serving Time.

An individual sentenced to serve time may be eligible for work release upon an order from a Judge of the District Court and approval by the Linn County Correctional Center Administration for the following purpose(s):

  • To seek employment (in-custody inmates only)
  • To attend an educational institution (in-custody inmates only)
  • To attend bona fide employment (in-custody and/or GPS electronic monitoring system)
  • For individuals with documented medical exemptions prohibiting in-custody confinement (GPS electronic monitoring system only)

In-custody individuals eligible for work release may pursue educational opportunities and vocational skill and training programs that are available in the Cedar Rapids metro area. A court order must specify education as a reason for the release.

Work Release - Individuals Serving Time In-Custody

Upon receipt of an order from the Court approving work release, the individual will be responsible for scheduling their own jail time with the Linn County Correctional Center, complete a LCCC In-Custody Only Work Release Form (PDF), and make an appointment two (2) weeks prior to serving their jail time to meet with a Correctional Center Shift Sergeant to complete the Work Release Agreement contract and to determine a work schedule for either  job search, employment hours and/or education.

Individuals serving time in-custody with work release privileges will be charged the lesser of the following: sixty dollars ($60.00) per day or fifty percent (50%) of wages or salary, after deductions required by law. Fees must be paid by cash only, in exact change, and in seven (7) day increments, beginning with the surrender date.

Individuals serving time in-custody with work release privileges will be permitted to bring in a maximum of three changes of work clothing.

Disciplinary action can lead to a temporary suspension of work release privileges for up to five (5) days. Any actions that involve restrictions greater than five (5) days will be reported to the Court in a petition requesting a permanent revocation of work release privileges.

Personal Property Locker - Individuals Serving Time In-Custody Only

All in-custody work release individuals will be assigned a personal property locker.  Individuals will be required to post a thirty-dollar ($30.00) locker key deposit.  The locker key will be the individual’s responsibility while they are serving time for work release, job search and/or education.  Individuals are solely responsible for the locker key and all contents of their locker (money, jewelry, wallet, phone, etc.). The locker key deposit will be refunded upon the individual’s release from the Linn County Correctional Center and the return of the locker key. Failure to return the locker key will result in forfeiture of the thirty-dollar ($30.00) deposit.  

Alcohol and Drug Test Policy - Individuals Serving Time In-Custody Only

All in-custody work release individuals must agree to report on time to the Linn County Correctional Center initially and every day thereafter. They must also be free of any alcohol and/or drugs. The only exception to this will be prescription medication that is specifically prescribed and used in accordance with the directions on the labeling. 

Individuals are required to pay a one-time ten dollars ($10.00) fee for drug testing and such testing shall occur prior to the individual being allowed to leave the Correctional Center. 

All work release individuals shall be subject to random drug and alcohol testing. An individual testing positive for drugs and/or alcohol or refusal to submit to testing will result in the suspension of work release privileges for up to five (5) days and the Jail Administrator will request the Court to revoke the work release privileges permanently.

Out-of-County Individuals Serving Work Release

Individuals requesting to serve work release time for another county in the Linn County Correctional Center must have a court order specifying that they are authorized to do so. Prior approval must also be obtained from the Linn County Correctional Center Administrator by calling 319-892-6300. Payment of sixty dollars ($60.00) per day must be paid in advance for all days the individual is ordered to serve. Individuals will not be allowed to serve an out-of-county jail sentence until all fees have been confirmed as paid in full by the other county.

 Work Release – GPS Electronic Monitoring System Home Confinement Program

The GPS Electronic Monitoring System (EMS) Home Confinement Program is limited to individuals who are Court authorized with final approval by the Linn County Correctional Center Administrator to participate in the program. Individuals authorized and approved for GPS EMS monitoring are limited to those who are actively employed with a minimum of ninety (90) days of continuous employment history and/or those with documented medical exemptions prohibiting in-custody confinement. Individuals will be responsible for scheduling their time with the Linn County Correctional Center and completing a LCCC GPS Electronic Monitoring System Program Work Release Form (PDF). Upon completion, individuals must schedule an appointment two weeks prior to serving their jail time to meet with a Correctional Center Shift Sergeant to complete the Work Release GPS EMS Agreement contract to determine a work schedule plus identify zones for work and home. 

Individuals utilizing the GPS EMS program must agree to pay fifty dollar ($50.00) per day to partake in the program. The daily fee covers the cost of the GPS device, charging equipment, system management services and all electronic monitoring and supervision while serving work release home confinement. Fees must be paid by cash only, in exact change, and in seven (7) day increments, beginning with the surrender date. 

Individuals must acknowledge that they will always wear the GPS EMS device.  Once the GPS EMS device is issued and physically attached, the individual is solely responsible for the condition of the device and the charging unit(s).  

 Alcohol and Drug Test Policy- GPS Electronic Monitoring System Home Confinement Program

All work release individuals on GPS EMS monitoring must agree to report on time to the Linn County Correctional Center initially and every day thereafter. They are prohibited from using or consuming alcohol and/or drugs while on GPS EMS monitoring. All alcohol and drugs shall be removed from the individual’s residence while on GPS EMS monitoring home confinement. The only exception to this shall be prescription medication that is specifically prescribed and used in accordance with the directions on the labeling. 

All GPS EMS work release individuals shall be subject to random drug and alcohol testing. An individual’s failure to follow this policy and turning themselves in under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, or found to have alcohol and/or drugs in their system, or they are found in possession of alcohol and/or drugs when on work release home confinement, will result in the suspension of work release privileges for up to five (5) days, and the Jail Administrator will request the Court to revoke the work release privileges permanently. All costs associated with random alcohol and drug testing are included in the work release GPS EMS fees.