Polk County officials discuss reinstating intensive pretrial release program to reduce jail days

Sheriff Schneider and Polk County public‑safety officials asked the Board to consider funding a reinstated intensive pretrial release program (level 4) administered by the Iowa Department of Corrections’ Fifth District. Sheriff Schneider said the program allows certain defendants to remain in the community pending trial “because they’re not convicted” while being intensively supervised, and that the county previously used level‑4 supervision until 2023.

Chief Corey Williams described how intensive pretrial (level 4) differed from the statutorily required levels 1–3 and said the county supported level‑4 supervision before the county stopped doing so in 2023: “Prior to the 2023, intensive pretrial release was supported by Polk County.” He and other presenters said the reduction in intensive supervision corresponded with a decline in people under pretrial supervision—from 737 individuals in November 2023 to 545 in May 2025, a decrease of about 26%—and that their analysis shows fewer pretrial supervision cases have led to increased jail population and out‑of‑county jail days.

Presenters said Polk County spent about $1,800,000 in fiscal year 2024–25 on out‑of‑county housing, and that out‑of‑county jail days rose from roughly 846 days per month in November 2023 to about 3,743 days per month in May 2025—a change described by presenters as adding approximately 3,000 out‑of‑county jail days per month over that period. Staff framed reinstatement as a potential cost‑savings measure and a way to reduce local jail population: presenters estimated the county could avoid some out‑of‑county housing costs and jail days if intensive pretrial supervision were restored, and they discussed a Department of Corrections proposal to provide staffing for the program at a cost the DOC would charge the county (presenters cited an approximate county cost of $225,000 to $260,000 for DOC staffing). Presenters gave two different savings framings during discussion: one statement estimated potential savings of up to $1,800,000 per year (or about $164,000 per month), while another framing put avoidable out‑of‑county housing expense at roughly $800,000 per year once contract costs were accounted for.

Presenters described the program’s screening and supervision elements: a validated risk assessment and interviews, weekly face‑to‑face contacts for level‑4 participants, home visits and multiple weekly contacts in some cases. They said judges recommend eligibility for pretrial release and the DOC assigns a supervision level based on criminal history and other risk factors; presenters noted the code requires levels 1–3 but not the intensive level‑4 program.

Board members asked about which charges or defendants would be eligible and about community safety and recidivism. Presenters said even people charged with serious offenses may be interviewed, but higher‑risk cases (forcible felonies and robberies) would be screened more carefully and may not be recommended for intensive release. When asked about outcomes, presenters said data generally show about 90% of pretrial participants appear for court and do not reoffend while supervised, but board members requested clearer, offense‑specific recidivism numbers and written guidelines on eligibility. One presenter said the county is seeing an increase in jail population that correlates with the elimination of level‑4 supervision, and that reinstatement with DOC staffing “would offset roughly that 150 inmates” and associated costs.

No formal vote was taken; presenters asked the board to consider contracting with the Fifth District DOC for intensive pretrial supervision and to weigh the potential fiscal and population impacts. Board members said they appreciated the briefing and the potential fiscal and social benefits—reunifying defendants with families, keeping people employed and reducing medical and housing costs in jail—but several supervisors asked staff to provide more detailed, offense‑level outcome statistics and a precise cost estimate before the board considers a funding decision.

The presenters at the meeting were Sheriff Schneider; Chief Corey Williams; Assistant Director Mike Brown, Fifth District (DOC); Fifth District Supervisor David Hauser; and Darren Cox (Fifth District, Iowa Department of Corrections). The board did not adopt a program or contract at the meeting; staff will return with additional data and cost details if the board requests further study.