IN SPITE OF THE POTENTIAL ADVANTAGES OF WORK RELEASE AS A MEANS OF REHABILITATION, ITS IMPLEMENTATION IS UNIMPRESSIVE. MANY STATES HAVE EITHER FAILED TO PASS LEGISLATION AUTHORIZING WORK RELEASE OR HAVE SET UPON ONLY VERY LIMITED PROGRAMS. ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THIS GENERAL LACK OF ENTHUSIASM TOWARD WORK RELEASE IS FEAR OF COMMUNITY REACTION. MANY RESIDENTS CHARGE THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A WORK-RELEASE CENTER IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD WILL CREATE A CLIMATE OF FEAR, ENDANGER THEIR PERSONAL SAFETY, AND REDUCE THEIR PROPERTY VALUES. TYPICALLY, SUCH CHARGES ARE NOT BASED ON PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OR RESEARCH EVIDENCE. THERE HAS BEEN VERY LITTLE RESEARCH IN THIS AREA. THE PRESENT PAPER FINDS THAT SUCH CHARGES CANNOT BE SUBSTANTIATED IN A STUDY OF TWO NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WORK-RELEASE CENTERS FOR FELONS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED. IT IS EVIDENT THAT MORE STUDY OF THIS TYPE IS NEEDED SO THAT THE IMPACT OF WORK RELEASE ON THE COMMUNITY CAN BE ACCURATELY ASSESSED.(AUTHOR ABSTRACT)....BDS