How Rhea County Jail's Work Release Program Helps Inmates Keep Jobs and Pay Bills

Rhea County Jail's Work Release Program lets incarcerated individuals keep working while in custody. Beyond job opportunities, the program helps with paperwork that often blocks employment - specifically, assistance getting a state ID and birth certificate. For families, this combination matters. Work release isn't just about getting someone to a job. It's about helping them maintain the documentation employers require and building a more stable foundation for release.

Earnings from work release go into an account rather than being paid out day-to-day. Your loved one receives those funds upon release. This matters for planning. Rent, utilities, car payments - some bills might need to wait until release when the funds become accessible.

Wages from work release also go toward court fines, child support, and other financial obligations. Part of the program's purpose is financial responsibility - earning income while addressing legal and family-related debts. If your loved one has multiple obligations, get a clear picture of payment priority and how deductions are tracked. You don't want to guess about what's being covered.

Master's Manufacturing in Dayton, Tennessee is one current placement, with six incarcerated individuals assigned there.

TenCate in Dayton, Tennessee is another current placement, also with six incarcerated individuals assigned.

Rhea County Jail became a

Transportation is built in. The jail transports work release participants to and from their jobs - a major help for families who can't take time off or don't have reliable vehicles.

Questions for Families

• ✓ Is my loved one eligible for work release right now, and what factors affect eligibility?
• ✓ Are they being considered as a trustee for community work, and how is that different from work release here?
• ✓ Will the jail place them with an employer, or can they continue an existing job if the court allows it?
• ✓ If the jail places them, what types of jobs are currently available?
• ✓ How does transportation work day-to-day (pickup/drop-off timing, what happens if a shift runs late)?
• ✓ Where are wages deposited, and how can my loved one see the balance while they’re in custody?
• ✓ When exactly are earnings released to them - on the day of release, or after processing?
• ✓ What deductions or payments come out of wages for court fines, child support, or other obligations?
• ✓ In what order are obligations paid, and how are payments documented?
• ✓ What happens if they miss work, lose a job placement, or the employer ends the assignment?
• ✓ Are there rules about work clothing, tools, or items they can bring to the job site?
• ✓ Who should the employer contact if there’s a schedule change or workplace issue?

The jail's public information focuses on what work release provides: job opportunities, transportation, and how earnings are handled. What it doesn't cover: selection criteria, pay rates, work schedules, or exact enrollment steps. Since earnings go into an account and participants are transported to work, the details that affect your planning - timelines, expectations, how money gets applied - need to be confirmed directly with the jail.

Summary

• ✓ Rhea County Jail became a Workhouse in January 2023, which the jail says allows trustee inmates to work in the community.
• ✓ The Work Release Program provides job opportunities for incarcerated individuals.
• ✓ The jail states participants are transported to and from work.
• ✓ Work release earnings are deposited into an account that incarcerated individuals receive upon release.
• ✓ The jail states wages are also used to pay court fines, child support, and other financial obligations.