Report on an Innovation—State Work-Release Programs

Abstract

To qualify as genuine reform, work-release programs must survive the roadblocks which have frustrated many previous innovative proposals: insufficient personnel, entrenched ideol ogy, and lack of necessary physical resources. To test the pros pects that the current interest in work-release will bring about substantial change, a survey was conducted among those states with statutory authority to initiate work-release programs for adult state prisoners. In 1968, twenty-eight states reported having such legislation and twenty-two had programs in operation. The survey revealed evidence of a trend toward decentralizing authority over the programs. However, state correction depart ments tend to keep a tight rein on work-release programs during the introductory stage. Most state legislation includes few, if any, arbitrary restrictions to prevent prisoners convicted of particular crimes from participating in work-release programs, but administrative policies are generally less liberal, especially in regard to offenses involving violence or sexual aggression. The need to develop a stable job base has involved most work-release programs in the intricate process of adapting to the socio-economic structure of the host community and in the search for appropriate housing facilities for work releasees. In addition, efforts are being made to extend the concept beyond employment to include release for educational and therapeutic programs in the community. Release for family visits, however, tends to draw official opposition.