NCJ Number
46464
Date Published
1975
Length
61 pages
Annotation
WORK RELEASE AND FURLOUGH PROGRAMS IN VIRGINIA'S PRISONS AND JAILS ARE EVALUATED, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING THE PROGRAMS ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
THE EVALUATION IS BASED ON VISITS TO STATE AND LOCAL FACILITIES, DURING WHICH STAFF AND INMATES WERE INTERVIEWED, WORK RELEASE AND RELATED FURLOUGH PROCEDURES WERE REVIEWED, AND SAMPLES OF INMATE FILES WERE EXAMINED. THE REPORT EXAMINES TRENDS IN WORK RELEASE PROGRAMMING IN GENERAL, REVIEWS THE HISTORY OF THE VIRGINIA WORK RELEASE PROGRAM, ASSESSES THE STATUS OF THAT PROGRAM, AND COMMENTS BRIEFLY ON THE MAJOR SHORTCOMINGS OF FURLOUGH PROCEDURES AS THEY RELATE TO WORK RELEASE. GUIDELINES FOR WORK RELEASE PROGRAMS ARE SUGGESTED RELATIVE TO CUSTODY, PHYSICAL CONDITIONS, EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL FACTORS, TYPE OF WORK, DURATION, TRANSFERS, FIELD CHECKS, COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING, TERMINATIONS, TRANSPORTATION, RECORDS AND REPORTS, AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS. PROBLEMS AND DEFICIENCIES RELATED TO CLASSIFICATION OF PRISONERS, DECISIONMAKING PROCEDURES, WORK RELEASE PREPARATION, STAFF TRAINING, AVAILABILITY OF SERVICES FROM OTHER AGENCIES, AND OTHER ASPECTS OF WORK RELEASE MANAGEMENT ARE IDENTIFIED. SUGGESTIONS ARE MADE FOR REFINING THE VIRGINIA STATUTE GOVERNING WORK RELEASE PROGRAMS. REPORTS ON THE WORK RELEASE PROGRAMS OF INDIVIDUAL FACILITIES ARE APPENDED. (LKM)