When inmates are released from prison in Iowa, they are given a prepaid debit card. It contains the remainder of money they earned at their prison job, saved or received while incarcerated. The editorial on this page details some of the troubling fees that are charged to inmates to access and spend their money.
However, fees and surcharges are a part of daily life in the state's correctional institutions.
Inmates can earn between 56 to 87 cents per hour working in prison. Family and friends might send additional money to the inmate to purchase basic necessities, such as shampoo or deodorant. All of this is subject to numerous, immediate deductions outlined in Iowa law. Grandma should know that if she sends her incarcerated grandson $100 for Christmas, he may only get a small fraction of it to buy cough drops, soap or reading glasses.