What is IPI?

Iowa Prison Industries (IPI) is the work arm of the Iowa Department of Corrections and consists of manufacturing, farming and private sector work programs. Each business is 100% self-funding and, since 1996, has returned over $10 million in revenue to the General Fund for education, taxes, family support and room and board.

The manufacturing arms of IPI are located at Anamosa, Fort Madison, Mitchellville, Newton and Rockwell City. At Anamosa, we focus our offender training and production of metal products such as desks and tables as well as other products such as Braille, printing and cleaning supplies. Fort Madison concentrates on wood furniture of all types and textiles. Female offenders are employed at Mitchellville for printing, CD-ROM file transfer and chair manufacturing. The Central Canteen and plastic bag manufacturing are located at Newton. Rockwell City produces dormitory furniture and novelty items.

Additionally, IPI manages the state surplus operations and supervises approximately 100 offenders in move and install activities around the state. IPI farms are located around the state and employ offenders in various farm activities such as row crop and livestock work programs.

Private Sector Work Programs are available to offenders that are scheduled for release in three years or less. This special program operates under the Bureau of Justice, PIE Program and allows private companies to employ offenders in various work programs. The offender earns a prevailing wage that ranges between $7.00 and $11.00 per hour. The offender may keep no more than 20% of their wages. The private employer provides all training and in many cases have offered jobs to the offenders upon release.

In total, IPI employs over 700 offenders daily in one of our work programs, accounting for over 1 million hours of inmate work training in the course of a year.

Iowa Prison Industries has an Advisory Board consisting of private citizens representing banking, education, agriculture, labor, voc-education and one member of the parole board. Board meetings are held quarterly. The public is welcome to attend any meeting to better understand how they might play a role in inmate rehabilitation.