Iowa Code Title XVI. Criminal Law and Procedure [Chs. 687-916] § 904.703. Services of inmates--institutions and public service--inmate labor fund

1. Inmates shall work on state account in the maintenance of state institutions, in the erection, repair, authorized demolition, or operation of buildings and works used in connection with the institutions, and in industries established and maintained in connection with the institutions by the director. The director shall encourage the making of agreements, including chapter 28E agreements, with departments and agencies of the state or its political subdivisions to provide products or services under an inmate work program to the departments and agencies. The director may implement an inmate work program for trustworthy inmates of state correctional institutions, under proper supervision, whether at work centers located outside the state correctional institutions or in construction or maintenance work at public or charitable facilities and for other agencies of state, county, or local government. The supervision, security, and transportation of, and allowances paid to inmates used in public service projects shall be provided pursuant to agreements, including chapter 28E agreements, made by the director and the agency for which the work is done. Housing and maintenance shall also be provided pursuant to the agreement, including a chapter 28E agreement, unless the inmate is housed and maintained in the correctional facility. All such work, including but not limited to that provided in this section, shall have as its primary purpose the development of attitudes, skills, and habit patterns which are conducive to inmate rehabilitation. The director may adopt rules allowing inmates participating in an inmate work program to receive educational or vocational training outside the state correctional institutions and away from the work centers or public or charitable facilities used under a program.

2. An inmate shall not work in a public service project if the work of that inmate would replace a person employed by the state agency or political subdivision, which employee is performing the work of the public service project at the time the inmate is being considered for work in the project.

3. An inmate labor fund is established under the control of the department. All fees, grants, appropriations, or reimbursed costs received by the department and related to inmate labor shall be deposited into the fund, and the moneys shall be used by the department to offset staff and transportation costs related to providing inmate labor to public entities and to initiate or supplement other inmate labor activities within correctional institutions or throughout the state. Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund of the state. Notwithstanding section 12C.7, interest and earnings deposited in the fund shall be credited to the fund.