4th District

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Turning Point Transitional Living House allows those with established disabilities to transition to the community.

Drug and alcohol free offenders are an important aspect of the Districts' programs.  The District conducts urinalysis testing on a regular basis.  The District arranges for laboratory backup testing on cases where serious violations are found.  The District also has on-site alcohol testing equipment available and conducts frequent tests on suspected alcohol abusers.  

Drug Court is a special court with the responsibility of handling cases involving drug-using offenders with the capability of comprehensive supervision, drug testing, treatment services and immediate sanctions and incentives.  It is a diversion program designed to divert non-violent substance abusing offenders from the criminal justice system into treatment and rehabilitative programming.

The 4th District’s Drug Court has been operating since January 3, 2000.  Drug Court convenes every Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. following a team conference reviewing each participant’s progress.  The Drug Court program is a minimum of eighteen (18) months and has four phases, including an intensive treatment continuum with weekly interaction with each participant.

The Drug Court program is a post adjudication model.  Following a plea by the offender, the offender is “sentenced” to Drug Court to fully comply with the program.  Failure to do so may result in serving the initial sentence.  Successful completion of the program will result in a dismissal of the criminal offense.  The participants may elect to withdraw their plea within the first four (4) weeks, or prior to the completion of inpatient treatment, whichever is longer, and the team may return the participant to the criminal docket to stand trial during that period.  Upon transfer of the offender to Drug Court, further proceedings in criminal court are stayed pending final disposition of each case.

Non-violent drug offenders and drug related offenders are eligible for Drug Court.  This includes offenders manufacturing for themselves to support their addiction and probation violators.  A history of violence, including domestic abuse, possession or use of weapons may be excluding factors for admission into the program.  Individuals with a history of severe mental problems may also be excluded. Drug dealers and large-scale manufacturers are excluded as well.

All applicants must be screened prior to being accepted.

Electronic Monitoring is an adjunct to other community based correctional supervision and treatment.  The goal of this program is to monitor compliance with offender movements in the community to enhance public safety.  The District is utilizing the latest
innovations in electronic surveillance to more effectively monitor high risk offenders.  The District currently uses active monitoring units, mostly utilized by the High Risk Unit officers.

Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) is the most innovative electronic surveillance technology used by criminal justice agencies.  The system combines GPS technology and advanced wireless communication protocols, flexible reporting and unique mapping capabilities to effectively track offenders twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week.  The Central Command Center (CCC), located in Des Moines, Iowa, is the main information
area.

The District’s GPS equipment is used to monitor offenders’ whereabouts at all times. The CCC is immediately alerted when an offender is in violation of the GPS rules or is experiencing equipment issues that require immediate attention.  If immediate action is needed, the CCC will contact designated District staff to respond accordingly.

Utilization of GPS by District staff can enhance public safety while maintaining offender accountability. 

The High Risk Unit is a special public safety unit established within the Department.  The High Risk Unit is staffed with Intensive Supervision Officers, Sex Offender Officers, Surveillance Officers and Fugitive Investigators.  The District Director is designated as Chief of this public safety unit.  The High Risk Unit includes sworn officers who have been trained and certified by the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy or qualify under IAC 40.4 (12).  The High Risk Unit has recently been involved with fugitive captures, assisting other agencies on special enforcement projects, task force operations and seizures of firearms and narcotics.  Members of the High Risk Unit also educate the community on the role of the unit at various speaking engagements each year.

Informal Probation is a program primarily intended for first-time or low-risk offenders. Offenders supervised on Informal Probation are responsible for completing all court-ordered requirements, including all financial obligations associated with the case(s). It is the offender's responsibility to provide written verification of completion of all court ordered conditions to the Probation/Parole Officer. Although the Court has placed you on informal probation for a period of time, you may be discharged as soon as you provide verification of completion of all court ordered conditions and financial requirements. You remain on probation until discharged by the Court.

*You must attend Informal Probation Sign Up to sign all required documentation. Group sign ups are conducted every Friday at 10a.m. See the "Sign Up Appointment" tab for more information on the sign up process and what is required at sign up.

*FAILURE TO SIGN UP WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS OF BEING SENTENCED WILL RESULT IN A VIOLATION REPORT BEING SUBMITTED TO THE COURT AND A WARRANT MAY BE ISSUED FOR YOUR ARREST.

OBEY THE LAW
You must obey the law. If you are arrested, you must notify the Informal Probation program immediately and report your new charge, when and where it occurred and from which law enforcement agency you were charged. Some offenses are not eligible for Informal Probation.

Informal Probation Supervision Fees

Section 905.14 of the Code of Iowa mandates that you pay a $300.00 supervision enrollment fee. The $300.00 fee must be paid in full at sign up. Methods of payment include cash, credit card or money order (payable to the Fourth District Department of Corrections). Checks are not accepted.

Court Costs, Fines & Restitution

In addition, you are required to pay all fines, court costs, surcharges, court-appointed attorney fees and restitution owed in your case.  For amounts due, call the Clerk of Court for the County you were sentenced or visit Iowa Courts Online. Payments shall be mailed to the Clerk of Court for the County in which you were sentenced. See the Clerk of Court tab for address information.

What will happen if these obligations are not met?

Failure to comply with all court-ordered conditions may result in revocation of probation and/or additional costs and/or possible incarceration.

Sign-Up Process

Informal probation supervision registration takes place every Friday at 10:00 a.m. (except holidays). 

***If you do not speak English, bring an interpreter, please. ***

La inscripción supervision informal de probation se realiza todos los viernes a las 10:00 a.m. (Excepto días festivos). 

***Si no habla inglés, traiga un intérprete, por favor. **

It is your responsibility to attend a sign up within thirty (30) days of being sentenced. If you fail to sign up within thirty (30) days of your sentencing date a violation report will be submitted to the Court.

Contact Informal Probation with the date you will attend sign-up.

 What should I bring to sign up?

• A copy of your sentencing order or other documents you received at sentencing.
• Driver’s license or other current form of identification
• $300 Probation Enrollment Fee (Iowa Code Section 905.14)
  • Payable by cash, credit card or money order – no checks
• Any verification of completed court-ordered conditions (For
  example:  Substance abuse evaluation, Driving Unimpaired Class, community service hours, etc.)

IDAP is a program utilizing the Achieving Change through Value-Based Behavior (ACTV) curriculum.  This proven approach guides group members to make different choices than they have made in the past and to engage in behaviors consistent with their personal values. The program consists of 24 weekly 90 minute sessions. Per Iowa Code, 4th District must monitor and certify compliance with the Iowa Domestic Abuse Program (IDAP).  IDAP programming is provided by 4th District staff.

The majority of IDAP participants are court-ordered to complete the course, however; individuals may also be referred to IDAP (Department of Human Services-involved, Juvenile Court-involved, pre-sentencing, etc.) without a court order.

Weekly Group Fee: $25

If terminated, re-start fee: $100

Intake/Orientation: Scheduled as needed

IDAP is a program utilizing the Achieving Change through Value-Based Behavior (ACTV) curriculum.  This proven approach guides group members to make different choices than they have made in the past and to engage in behaviors consistent with their personal values. The program consists of 24 weekly 90 minute sessions. Per Iowa Code, 4th District must monitor and certify compliance with the Iowa Domestic Abuse Program (IDAP).  IDAP programming is provided by 4th District staff.

The majority of IDAP participants are court-ordered to complete the course, however; individuals may also be referred to IDAP (Department of Human Services-involved, Juvenile Court-involved, pre-sentencing, etc.) without a court order.

Weekly Group Fee: $25

If terminated, re-start fee: $100

Intake/Orientation: Arrive 15 minutes before group start time for intake on each of the meeting day.

An alternative to jail for persons with severe and persistent mental health diagnoses that commit crimes, meeting the established criteria.

A voluntary, intensive individualized program that will help the offenders receive the appropriate treatment. As well as ensure their basic needs are being met such as shelter and food.

The goal of Mental Health Court is to impose a sentence that provides maximum opportunity for not only the rehabilitation of the defendant, but to protect the community from further offenses by the defendant with consideration of the victim’s rights and safety.

An intense substance abuse treatment program is provided to all offenders serving a sentence for OWI-2nd or subsequent offenses.

Failure to comply at the community level may result in prison incarceration.

The Sex Offender Treatment Program (SOTP) is designed to provide treatment to offenders who commit sex crimes.  The program involves assessment, evaluation and specialized treatment groups.  In addition to the treatment program these offenders are monitored on a specialized caseload.  The goal of the SOTP is to reduce the risk of further sexual victimization through participation in the treatment program and intensive supervision.

The treatment program uses a cognitive behavioral model.  Topics covered include victim empathy, cognitive distortions, relapse prevention, relationship skills and healthy sexuality.  Polygraph examinations are also used as a treatment tool to assist offenders take responsibility for their deviant thoughts and behaviors.

The District opened a Diagnostic and Treatment Center in the Fall of 2012.  All sex offenders in the District are initially evaluated and risk assessed at the Diagnostic and Treatment Center.  This allows a thorough evaluation of all offenders prior to community placement and reduces the likelihood of high risk offenders being prematurely placed in the community.

The 4th District Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) is supported by our partnership with “Justice for Vets” a division of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. The Honorable Amy Zacharias presides over VTC, offering a specialized docket to address veterans challenged with unique substance abuse and mental health issues.

Requirements: Applicants must be a Veteran or currently serving in the United States Armed Forces. VTC requires the applicant to successfully progress through 4 phases lasting 18 to 24 months. Applicants must be a resident of Iowa and charged with either an aggravated misdemeanor, felony, or both. A condensed version of the program (Fast Track) is available to select individuals on a case-by-case basis.  Fast Track applicants will typically be Active-Duty Military, charged with a first-time misdemeanor offense. There is no Iowa residency requirement for Fast Track.

Probation/Parole Officers enforce payment of victim restitution.

Iowa Code 321J.17 (2a) and 321J.2 (2a4)

If your Informal Probation requires you to complete a Driving Under the Influence course as mandated in Iowa Code 321J.17 (2a) and 321J.2 (2a4), you are to call one of the agencies and get enrolled in the next available class as soon as possible.

It is your responsibility to make a copy of the certificate of completion when you are done with the class and send it to our office so we have verification in your file.

If you were court-ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation, you are to set up and attend the evaluation and follow the recommendations of the treatment agency. This condition is to be done within 30 days, and at your own expense. Therefore, you are to call an accredited agency within one week from your sentencing date. Upon calling an agency you are to tell them you have been court ordered to receive a mental health evaluation. They will schedule an appointment for you to meet with them. If you have already completed a mental health evaluation we will need to receive a copy of the evaluation.

If you were court-ordered to submit to a substance abuse evaluation by a treatment agency, you are to set up and attend the evaluation and follow whatever treatment is recommended by the treatment agency. This condition is to be done within 30 days, and at your own expense. Therefore, you are to call an accredited agency within one week from your sentencing date. Upon calling an agency you are to tell them you have been court ordered to receive a substance abuse evaluation as a result of your recent sentencing. They will in turn schedule an appointment for you to meet with them. If you have already completed a substance abuse evaluation we will need to receive a copy of the evaluation.