439.179 Release of misdemeanants -- Purposes for which permitted --
664 words·~3 min read·
/ky/439-179A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Earnings of prisoner, records, and disposition -- Authority of District
Judge and jailer.
(1)Any person sentenced to a jail for a misdemeanor, nonpayment of a fine or
forfeiture, or contempt of court, may be granted the privilege of leaving the jail
during necessary and reasonable hours for any of the following purposes:
(a)Seeking employment; or
(b)Working at his employment; or
(c)Conducting his own business or other self-employment occupation
including, in the case of a woman, housekeeping and attending the needs
of her family; or
(d)Attendance at an educational institution; or
(e)Medical treatment.
(2)Unless the privilege is expressly granted by the court, the prisoner shall be
sentenced to ordinary confinement. The prisoner may petition the sentencing
court for the privilege at the time of sentence or thereafter, and, in the
discretion of the sentencing court, may renew his petition. The sentencing court
may withdraw the privilege at any time by order entered with or without notice.
The jailer shall advise the court in establishing criteria in determining a
prisoner's eligibility for work release.
(3)The jailer shall notify the Department of Workforce Development, which shall
endeavor to secure employment for unemployed prisoners under this section. If
a prisoner is employed for wages or salary, they shall, by wage assignment, be
turned over to the District Court which shall deposit the same in a trust
checking account and shall keep a ledger showing the status of the account of
each prisoner. The wages or salary shall not be subject to garnishment of
either the employer or the District Court during the prisoner's term, and shall be
disbursed only as provided in this section. For tax purposes they shall be the
income of the prisoner.
(4)Every prisoner gainfully employed shall be liable for the cost of his board in the
jail, for an amount up to twenty-five percent (25%) of the prisoner's gross daily
wages, not to exceed forty dollars ($40) per day, but not less than twelve
dollars ($12) per day, established by the fiscal court of a county or the
urban-county council if an urban-county government. If he defaults, his
privilege under this section shall be automatically forfeited. All moneys shall be
paid directly to the jailer and paid to the county treasury for use on the jail as
provided in KRS 441.206. The fiscal court of a county or the urban-county
council if an urban-county government may, by ordinance, provide that the
county furnish or pay for the transportation of prisoners employed under this
section to and from the place of employment and require that the costs be
repaid by the prisoner.
(5)The sentencing court may order the defendant's employer to deduct from the
defendant's wages or salary payments for the following purposes:
(a)The board of the prisoner and transportation costs incurred by the county;
(b)Support of the prisoner's dependents, if any;
(c)Payment, either in full or ratably, of the prisoner's obligations
acknowledged by him in writing or which have been reduced to judgment;
and
(d)The balance, if any, to the prisoner upon his discharge.
(6)The sentencing court shall not direct that any payment authorized under this
section be paid through the circuit clerk.
(7)The Department of Corrections shall, at the request of the District Judge,
investigate and report on the amount necessary for the support of the
prisoner's dependents, and periodically review the prisoner's progress while on
leave from the jail and report its findings to the District Judge.
(8)The jailer may refuse to permit the prisoner to exercise his privilege to leave
the jail as provided in subsection
(1)for any breach of discipline or other
violation of jail regulations for a period not to exceed five
(5)days.
(9)In counties containing an urban-county form of government, the duties,
responsibilities, and obligations vested herein in the Department of Corrections
shall be performed by the adult misdemeanant probation and work release
agency of the urban-county government.