Huber Work Release

General Information

When sentenced to a regular jail term or as part of a probationary sentence, the privilege of Huber or Work Release is given by the Court. This privilege was established by Statute so that persons confined to Jail can maintain their employment, continue to support their families, and meet other obligations.

The approval of any job is up to the discretion of the Sheriff or his representative.

All property, including lockers, located within the Jail maybe searched without permission at any time and for any reason.

All Huber/Work Release Inmates are subject to all general Jail Rules as well as Huber/Work Release Rules. Rules and guidelines have been established to maintain an orderly and efficient operation of the Huber Section, maintain Jail Security, and to insure the safety and welfare of the inmate and staff. These Rules regulate the activities and conduct of inmates while outside the Jail. The intent is to treat all inmates as fairly as possible.

Employment

Work: Inmates are limited to one job. No combinations of work and/or school will be allowed. All Huber/Work Releases are subject to the approval of the Sheriff or his representative. No new jobs will be allowed in places where alcohol is available. No new jobs will be allowed for pulping or related types of work. Ask first if there is question of a job being allowed. An inmate must remain in the Jail at least one day each week. For this purpose, the week starts on Sunday and ends on Saturday. Inmates will be allowed to work a normal eight-hour shift. Inmates who do not work a normal shift may obtain permission to expand the hours as follows: No inmate will be allowed out of Jail for more than 55 hours a week if they work within 25 miles of the Jail or 6O hours a week if they work in an area located further than 25 miles away (includes travel time). Inmates must be employed for at least three days each week. Inmates will be released for no less than four hours and not more than 16 hours in a day. Inmates must have health insurance or their employer must provide them with Workers Compensation insurance. Proof of insurance must be provided to the Jail Staff prior to release. Inmates will be allowed to work out of the County only if convicted in Wood County Court and no transfer is available to the County where the person works. To be considered for out-of-county work, inmates must have had the job before entering Jail. No new jobs or job searches will be allowed outside the County. No transfer inmates will be allowed to work out of the county. Request to work out of the County must be submitted in writing to the Jail Staff. No job sites will be in excess of 20 miles from the Wood County line unless approved by the Jail Administrator or Sheriff. A detailed work schedule must be submitted by the inmate for the following week. Only the employer may call and change hours. No inmate will be released for work until the schedule is on file. Inmates must go directly to and from the approved work location. Any deviation from this must be approved by the Jail Staff in advance. Inmates must be at the approved location at all times. The Jail Staff must approve any change of location. Work sites may be visited or called by Jail Staff or other law enforcement officers. Pay stubs or copies of the paycheck will be required to be turned in by the inmate on each payday.

Fees and Payments

All Huber Work Release inmates will be required to pay the rate set by the County Board to cover expenses incurred by the County. Inmates who work only three days per week will be charged for three days unless the inmate works thirty or more hours. This is considered full-time employment and the inmate will be charged for the full week’s fee, Inmates working more than three days per week or thirty hours or more per week will be charged the full week’s fee. All inmates must pay one week’s charges in advance. Inmates not paying will not be allowed to work. Inmates may be required to turn in their uncashed paychecks. Inmates on job search who receive Unemployment Compensation will be required to pay for the days they go out on job search. Normal job search hours are approximately three hours once a week. If the Unemployment Office requires more than once-a-week job searches, this will be granted, All Huber/Work Release inmates are fully responsible for any and all types of medical bills.

Meals

Lunches will be provided for inmates who miss the normal serving hours. Inmates who plan on returning before supper must notify the Jail Staff before leaving each day to insure that a hot meal is provided. No meals are saved. Inmates who are scheduled to work over two meal times will be provided with two lunches when leaving the Jail.

Medical

Medical Request (non-emergency): Will be submitted to the staff for approval. All appointments will be made on workdays, either before, during, or after work, Jail Staff will verify all appointments. Submit the medical request as soon as possible.
Medical Request (emergency): Notify staff immediately - the Jail Staff will assist the inmate in obtaining medical treatment, All Huber/Work Release inmates are fully-responsible for any and all types of medical bills.

Releases

Inmates will not be released unless their bed is made and the cellblock is clean. Inmates may schedule with jail approval Alcoholics Anonymous, doctor, or other types of counseling to occur at the beginning, end, or during the work release time period. No special releases will be granted to the inmate for these reasons. School - Provide class schedule to Jail Staff. A reasonable travel time to and from school will be allowed and set by the Jail. ChildCare -Will be allowed for the inmate’s own children and only if the inmate does not have a job or attend school. The hours of the childcare will be the hours needed when the other child care person is at work. Maximum hours will be the same as for work. A work schedule for the person who will be working while the inmate is performing child care services must be provided to the Jail Staff. The inmate will be restricted to the single residence at which the child care is done, unless approved by the Jail Staff.

Releases not allowed:

Church: Use in-jail service when available
Haircuts: Use in-jail service
Alcoholic's Anonymous: Other than listed
Narcotics Anonymous - Use in-jail program when available
Non-Court ordered releases: Any release not authorized by the Court or other policies will not be permitted
The Huber/Work Release Rules apply at anytime. This includes but is not limited to: work, doctor appointments, job searches, and other approved appointments.
Huber/Work Release inmates will be released at the arranged time. Inmates must advise the Jail Staff of a change of hours so release times can be changed. While being released, obtain your lunch/s. Inmates are entitled to one lunch for each meal missed at the Jail, Inmates will be escorted to the locker room to change clothes. lnmates’jail clothing will remain in the locker.
Before leaving the Jail, the inmate must inform the Jail Staff of their location for the day and estimated return time. Inmates will not be permitted to return to the cell or locker room once released. Inmates must take all items needed for the day with them.
Inmates must go directly to and from work or an approved location. Any deviation must be approved by the Jail Staff in advance, Work sites may be visited or called by Jail Staff or other law enforcement officers in order to verify work information and the presence of the inmate at the site.

Return to Jail

When returning to the Jail, enter through the Wood County Sheriff’s Department Public Entrance and proceed directly to the Jail lobby.
Remain in the Jail lobby. DO NOT contact the person in the Control Center; a Jail Staff member will come out of the Jail to let inmates in the Huber Section.
After being admitted to the Jail, inmates will be required to leave all work/street clothing in the locker and change into a Jail uniform.
Notify the Jail Staff of any change in work schedule, including having the next day off, so release times can be adjusted.
Each working inmate will be issued a key and lock to be placed on the assigned locker, The inmate is responsible for this key. If the key is lost or misplaced, the inmate will be charged are placement or opening fee. All items, including clothes, money, or shoes will be placed into the locker and locked, The inmate is responsible for locking the locker after each use.
The Jail is not responsible for items missing from lockers. It is not recommended to keep valuable items in the locker. The Jail Staff can secure these items for safekeeping for a short period of time.
If the inmate cannot return by the estimated arrival time, the Jail Staff must be notified and approve the extension of hours. The inmate must provide a reason for the extra hours and a new return time.
Inmates must show the Jail Staff all items coming into the Jail. No burning or smoking materials will be allowed into the Jail, No items prohibited under General Rules may be brought into the Jail.
All inmates are subject to pat down and/or strip searches at all times. Clothing exchange for Huber/Work Release Inmates will be done, All inmates in the Huber Section of the Jail will remove all street clothing when returning and place into the assigned locker. The inmate will be issued a Jail uniform to be worn in the cell.
Inmates failing to return from any type of release will be charged with escape. All remaining Huber/Work Release privileges will be revoked. Good time may be revoked,

General Rules

Inmates may not possess or consume any alcoholic beverages, non-prescription controlled substances, or any item with an alcohol content (most cough syrups contain alcohol). Inmates are required to take breath, blood, or urine tests whenever a violation is suspected, at random intervals, or as ordered any time the Jail requires it. The Jail Staff must be informed of any type of medication being taken by an inmate in advance of taking such medication. Approval of non-prescription medications must be obtained from the Jail Staff, Inmates shall not enter any portion of the Jail unescorted unless permission is granted by the Jail Staff. Inmates under Huber/Work Release or job search who commit or are charged with any new offense (including traffic) shall be considered in violation of Jail Rules. Beds must be made when not in use. Cellblocks must be kept clean at all times.

G.O.A.L at Mid-State or other school classes:

Inmates will report to the classroom immediately upon arrival at the facility. If the room is not open, the inmate is required to either remain near the door of the classroom or report to the department office. Release times will be scheduled in such a manner that the inmate arrives no earlier than 15 minutes before class,
Inmates will be allowed in the following areas of the facility: Designated classroom, cafeteria for lunch and breaks, nearest restrooms, and other instructor-approved locations.
Off-limit areas are all areas not listed above and include the following: parking lot, other areas of the campus, gym, weight room, and library, unless assigned by an instructor.
Inmates are required to attend all classes.
Inmates will be on time for all classes.
Instructors cannot grant excuses for any reason. All excuses must be obtained from the Jail Staff in written form and presented to the instructor (such as doctor appointments).
Attendance cards will be given to all inmates attending classes. The card will be given to each instructor when you enter the classroom and picked up when the inmate leaves the class. The instructor shall fill the inmate’s time of arrival and departure from the class. If for some reason the instructor is not available, report to the department office or main office.
After the completion of the class, the inmate is required to return directly to the Jail.
Upon arrival at the Jail, the attendance card/s shall be presented to the Jailer on duty. The Jailer will respond to any comments noted by the instructor or refer such matters to the Supervisor.
Inmates who plan to operate a motor vehicle must have a valid Wisconsin Drivers License and proof of insurance before being allowed to drive. If a vehicle doesn’t belong to the inmate, a permission slip from the owner must be provided to the Jail Staff along with proof of insurance.
Inmates will park their vehicles in the Baker Street parking lot in the area designated.
Inmates cannot ride together unless approved by the Jail Staff. Each inmate is responsible for getting to and from work on time. Sharing a ride with another inmate will not be an excuse for returning late.

Violation of Rules

Any violation of the Wood County Jail Rules will result in disciplinary action which may include but is not limited to the following: loss of Huber/Work Release privileges, loss of good time, loss of other privileges, special restrictions, criminal prosecution, and denial of transfer.
Minor violations may result in the loss of up to five days of Huber.
Work Release and up to two days’ loss of good time.
Major rule violations: Excessive drinking (.05% and above), giving false information on the Huber/ Work Release paperwork, use or possession of any unauthorized drug, operating a vehicle when not authorized, failure to report changes of employment status, and repeated minor violations of the rules, will result in revocation of the Huber/Work Release privilege.
Transfers from other Jails under Huber/Work Release will have their transfer canceled for any violation of the rule or at any time the Sheriff of Wood County or his representative so deems it in the best interest of the Jail and Wood County.
Violation of the rules while in the Jail may result in general jail discipline and/or loss of release.
Violations may result in the filing of new charges against the offender. Jail discipline and new criminal charges may occur at the same time.

Work Search

Job searches - Inmates must be sentenced by the Court with the Huber or Work Release privilege. After five days in Jail, inmates may make an application for work search. If approved, inmates will be allowed out one time each week for no longer than three hours. Each week the inmate shall submit a request on Monday for release. The Jail Staff will schedule releases during the week. Monday releases are usually not allowed. The inmate’s probation officer may be required to approve the application before release, All Huber/Work Release rules apply. Inmates must get approval before leaving the Jail for the locations they want to stop at. Inmates shall return the completed sign out slips when returning to the Jail to verify each stop. No new jobs will be allowed in places where alcohol is available. No new jobs will be allowed for pulping or related types of work. Ask the Jail Staff if there is question of a job being allowed.

Contact Information

Melissa Saeger , Huber / Work Release Coordinator
Phone: 715-421-8735
Fax: 715-421-8775
Email: contact form
Address: 400 Market St
Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54495-8095
www.woodcountysheriffsdepartment.com