Jail Diversion Program

A resident on the jail diversion program is confined to their home or approved housing and monitored with an electronic device. They are allowed to leave their residence for the purpose of exercising their Huber privileges, as approved. The residence must be free of alcohol, alcohol containers, illegal drugs, and weapons.

If you have been sentenced to the Dane County Jail with work release/Huber privileges, you may be eligible to serve part or all of your sentence at your home or approved housing if you meet the criteria for Jail Diversion. This guide is designed to help determine if you may be eligible and to assist you in applying for Jail Diversion.

Qualified residents may apply for Jail Diversion by completing an application. To qualify for Jail Diversion you must be serving a Dane County sentence and sentenced with Huber privileges, or be sentenced with permission to transfer your sentence to Dane County. You must have a residence in Dane County. If you are sentenced to an OWI charge you must have scheduled or completed your court-ordered AODA assessment.

Your institutional behavior is taken into consideration when determining your appropriateness for Jail Diversion. There will be a mandatory drug and alcohol screening before you are enrolled in any diversion program. A background check will also be conducted to determine your eligibility for Jail Diversion.

Apply online: Jail Diversion Application or complete the Jail Diversion Application PDF and the Application for Waived/Reduced Fees and e-mail to diversion.intake@danesheriff.com 

If you have questions about the jail diversion program, our intake staff can be reached at (608)266-9089.

If you are currently enrolled in the jail diversion program and need to call in a schedule change, please call (608)266-9093. Please note this phone number is for use by currently enrolled program participants only. 

If you have an upcoming court appearance on an OWI 3rd or above and are due to be remanded forthwith to jail with Work Release or Huber privileges, your file will be finalized for enrollment once you are sentenced and have been booked into the Dane County Jail. Please complete an application and turn it in at least two weeks prior to sentencing. If it’s determined you are an eligible candidate, the Diversion program will attempt to contact you at the phone number provided to complete an orientation prior to your sentencing hearing date.

Employment is not a requirement to be eligible for Jail Diversion if you ar serving a Dane County sentence. To be considered for a transfer to Dane County, employment is required. Residents who are employed or seek employment while on Jail Diversion will follow all Dane County Sheriff’s Office Huber Law Procedures.

All Jail Diversion participants can partake in the Volunteer Program. Unemployed residents are encouraged to participate in the Dane County Jail Volunteer Program. Participating residents may be eligible for sentence reduction credit.