Inmate Transfer & Housing Costs​​
When an inmate is housed in another county, Wapello County pays a daily fee for the inmate’s housing and care.
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In addition to the daily housing fee, the County may incur transportation and staff costs to transfer inmates and return them to Wapello County for court proceedings, attorney meetings, or other required appearances. These expenses are paid with County funds.
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Note: Wapello County receives daily reimbursement for certain inmates housed at the jail. Reimbursement may come from the inmates themselves, when applicable, as well as from the Iowa Department of Corrections. These payments help offset a portion of the cost of housing inmates. In 2025, Wapello County received the following in reimbursements:
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Department of Corrections: $30,950
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Inmates: $22,300
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Recent Inmate Transportation Data
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Between August 14, 2025 to October 28, 2025 (75 days)
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72 individual trips
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≈ 3,795 miles of travel
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60+ different inmates
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County jails must consider the classification of inmates when determining which cells to place an inmate. There are classifications of inmates that must be housed separately. With the existing jail this may require allocating six beds (inmate spots) to one person. Therefore, when taking classifications into account, not all available beds can always be used. As a result, the jail may reach its operating capacity even when some beds are unoccupied. When space is not available, inmates may need to be housed in other counties.
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These transportation requirements involve staff time and the use of county vehicles and resources
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Inmate Out of County Housing Data (June 2025 – May 2026)
Considerations When Housing Inmates Outside Wapello County
Staff and resources: Transporting inmates to and from other counties requires the use of deputies, staff time, and county vehicles.
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Availability of beds: The ability to house inmates in other counties depends on available bed space and each facility’s capacity and inmate classification requirements.
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Transportation for court: Wapello County is responsible for transporting inmates housed in other counties back to Wapello County for proceedings which require a defendents personal presence. Currently, approximately 1-4 inmates are transported per court service day.
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Responsibility and oversight: Wapello County retains responsibility for inmates in its custody when they are housed in another county. Day-to-day housing and care are provided by the facility where the inmate is housed.