DES MOINES – Vincent Brown is back at the Fort Des Moines work release facility, after failing to return to his residence at the facility on Sunday.
Local 5 On Your Side wanted to know how Brown walked off in the first place, and if any procedures will be reviewed. Here are the questions and answers, per the Department of Corrections.
1. What is the process that an inmate goes through as he/she works through the work release program?
The Iowa Board of Parole makes the determination of whether or not an inmate should be continued to be held in prison, to be supervised by parole, or to be allowed to participate in a work release program. They review many factors in making this determination that include when the inmate is due to discharge their sentence, the nature of their crime, their behavior while incarcerated, the programs they have completed, how long they have been in prison, and other factors.
The work release program is designed as a stepping stone for individuals that are getting closer to the end of their sentence, and their subsequent release from incarceration. It is often used as a supervision tool for higher-risk individuals, or those that lack a stable community-residence. Since over 90% of our incarcerated individuals will be returning to their community at some point, the best practice is to gradually release the supervision of the individuals, rather than simply allow them to discharge their sentence and then have no supervision once they leave our institutions. Of the roughly 30,000 Iowans were on some form of community supervision last fiscal year, about 2,139 were supervised in a residential facility.
In this specific individual’s instance, their tentative discharge date where their sentence would end and they would no longer receive any kind of supervision was set for August of next year.
2. What is the check-in process for the work release program?
There are many rules that govern the behavior of individuals that are put on work release supervision. Generally, the individual has to check in and out with the staff of the residential facility anytime they are going off-grounds. That might be for the purpose of employment, job-seeking, treatment, or medical/personal appointments.
3. How many inmates participate in this program that 3.reside at the Fort Des Moines facility?
There are many Iowans under field supervision and residential supervision (supervision in the community where the individual is required to live at a district facility). Currently, there are 28,442 individuals under field supervision, and an additional 2,148 under residential supervision. That includes the 593 in a work release program.
In regards to the 5th Judicial District Department of Correctional Services, they currently have 121 individuals under work release supervision.
4. Will security protocols and policies be reviewed after this inmate escaped?
Leadership in the districts will review every major incident to determine if a policy or practice could be improved.
5. How was this inmate found last night?
This individual returned to the work release facility around 6 PM.
6. What happens when an inmate does not return after a work release job? Are local authorities alerted?
If an individual is found to be in escape status of their work release program, staff first makes attempts to contact the individual, their employer, and their relatives or emergency contacts. They will often check with local jails and hospitals. If they are unable to identify the location of a work releasee, they will notify the Department of Public Safety so that an arrest warrant can be put out on the individual. Additionally, if there are any known victims, staff will attempt to make contact and notify them. Lastly, the 5th District Dept. of Correctional Services has a fugitive apprehension unit comprised of 12 sworn police officers who actively search for anyone who absconds from supervision.
