THE AUTHOR BEGINS WITH AN IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION OF THE RATIONALE UNDERLYING FURLOUGH PROGRAMS. THEN FOLLOWS A DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTUAL OPERATION OF THE PROGRAM, WITH PARTICULAR FOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE MEANS OF EFFECTIVELY AND FAIRLY SCREENING APPLICANTS. HE ALSO LOOKS AT SOME TYPICAL PROBLEMS FOUND IN FURLOUGH PROGRAMS, AND SUGGESTS FEASIBLE SOLUTIONS. THE ARTICLE CONCLUDES BY NOTING THAT FURLOUGHS ARE NOT AN END IN THEMSELVES, BUT MERELY A MEANS TO BE EMPLOYED IN COMBINATION WITH OTHER TECHNIQUES TO EFFECT SUCCESSFUL REINTEGRATION OF THE OFFENDER.(AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...TWH