NORTH CAROLINA'S WORK RELEASE PROGRAM, ONE OF THE OLDEST AND LARGEST IN THE UNITED STATES, EXPANDED FROM 8 INMATES IN THE PROGRAM'S FIRST 2 YEARS (JULY 1957 TO JULY 1959) TO A DAILY AVERAGE IN FISCAL YEAR 1975 OF MORE THAN 1,400, APPROXIMATELY 11 PERCENT OF THE STATE'S PRISON POPULATION. A PERSON ON WORK RELEASE REIMBURSES THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION FOR HIS ROOM, BOARD, AND TRANSPORTATION, AND MAKES PAYMENTS TO HIS DEPENDENTS. THE AVERAGE FINANCIAL BENEFITS OF WORK RELEASE TO THE STATE AVERAGE OVER 5 PERCENT OF THE STATE'S CORRECTIONAL BUDGET. POSTRELEASE BENEFITS INCLUDE LESS SERIOUS CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, IMPROVED LABOR MARKET PERFORMANCE, AND IMPROVE ATTITUDES TOWARD SOCIETY, AS REFLECTED IN FINDINGS FROM INTERVIEWS WITH 453 FORMER INMATES, SOME OF WHOM HAD PARTICIPATED IN WORK RELEASE AND SOME OF WHOM HAD NOT. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT, ALTHOUGH THE WORK RELEASE PROGRAM COULD BE GREATLY STRENGTHENED BY IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF JOBS OFFERED TO INMATES, THE PROGRAM'S BENEFITS ARE SUBSTANTIAL IN TERMS OF BUDGETARY SAVINGS AND POSTRELEASE PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENTS. IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS ARE DISCUSSED. SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED.