Work release program

Work release program information agreement and application

The purpose of the work release program is to allow select clients to serve their jail time in a manner that is productive for the client and the community. In this program, clients are allowed to leave the facility to go to work for up to 12 hours each day, 5-6 days per week. All time spent away from the facility must be pre-approved based upon verification of schedules by the employer.

Global positioning and smartphone monitoring systems are utilized to ensure compliance with the program rules at an additional cost (see fee schedule below).

For jail-based sentences, the judge must have granted authorization to apply to the work release program on the sentencing order. However, the Garfield County Criminal Justice administrator retains the discretion to determine whether the offender will be placed in the work release program, which will not place an individual on work release if that offender is precluded from doing so by the court or has certain felonies, such as a history of introduction of contraband or sex assault charges.

The Garfield County Criminal Justice work release program is very strict and requires stringent criteria be met to remain in the program. Not all applicants are accepted, and it is not an automatic process. There is limited space, and a waiting list may be used at times.

Work release agreement

Garfield County work release policy

For cases that are sentenced to jail with work release as an approved option and condition of probation cases, the client must apply and receive approval to participate prior to reporting. In many cases, this application process may be completed as part of the pre-sentence investigation process, or the application may be submitted by the client prior to sentencing for all cases without a pre-sentence investigation.

The work release candidates may submit a completed application form to Garfield County Criminal Justice Services after arrival at the jail in certain circumstances. The application is available on the Garfield County Criminal Justice Services webpage. Prospective clients may call the program at 970-625-0334, extension 4400, for more information. All intakes will be processed Monday through Saturdays between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Failure to appear at your scheduled intake date/time will result in rejection from the work release Program.

A written notification will be sent to the appropriate court and jail. Normally, a client will report to the jail for intake and a date/time is scheduled for reporting to the work release program. Part of the application process will include the completion of the job verification form that must be signed by the employer.

Prior to approval for the work release program, the appropriateness of any work situations is reviewed by the program administration. Work-release applicants must inform the potential employer that they are in the program.

NOTE: If you are self-employed, you must provide a detailed proposed work schedule. This schedule is subject to review, modification, and approval by the work release officer prior to the client being allowed to go out to work. Self-employment must fit the definition of labor in return for pay to qualify for work release. All self-employed work release candidates must have a business license with insurance and provide documentation at the interview. A home office or “working from home” is not allowed.

Persons reporting to the work release program to serve work release sentences must take a drug screen test within the first 12 hours of arrival. The cost for each test is $20 paid in cash or cashier’s check/money order. Positive results may entail removal from the program.

In the event the test is positive, during intake, that person may remain in the Garfield County Community Corrections facility until such time they are re-tested and test negative. They will not be approved to work until the test results are negative. There is a waiting period of 48 hours between tests. A fee of $20 is charged for each subsequent test.

Persons from outside agencies (states or judicial districts) who test positive will not be allowed to serve their sentence in the Garfield County Criminal Justice Program. Each work release inmate is given a drug screen (urinary analyses or UA) test randomly at least once a week. In the event the test is positive, their work release privilege will be revoked, and the case is sent to the courts or jail. In the event a person tests positive who was serving a sentence from another state or judicial district, that person will be discharged, and the sentencing jurisdiction is notified.

It is your responsibility to immediately inform the program staff in writing when your status at your place of employment changes. A status change could include being laid off, work hours shortened to less than 40 hours a week, getting fired, or quitting. Failure to inform the staff of these work status changes may result in a referral to the courts. If you are doing an out-of-county work release sentence here in Garfield County, your county will be informed of your failure to complete their sentence and the reason for your release from this program.