THE REPORT ASSESSES WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT FURLOUGH PROGRAMS BY REVIEWING PUBLICATIONS, PROJECT REPORTS, STATUTES, AND PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS, AND BY EXAMINING FURLOUGH PROGRAM OPERATIONS IN A SAMPLE OF STATE AND FEDERAL INSTITUTIONS. THE ASSESSMENT IS USED TO CONSTRUCT A SET OF THEORETICAL MODELS, GENERIC FLOW DIAGRAMS, A SINGLE-SITE EVALUATION DESIGN, AND A PLAN FOR BROADENING THE INFORMATION BASE WITH REGARD TO FULOUGH PROGRAMS. THE REPORT POINTS TO THE PAUCITY OF INFORMATION REGARDING THE OPERATION AND IMPACT OF FURLOUGH PROGRAMS. THE SUGGESTED RESEARCH FRAMEWORK COMBINES INDEPTH, SINGLE-SITE EVALUATIONS OF FURLOUGH PROGRAM OPERATIONS WITH THE GATHERING OF NATIONWIDE DATA PERTAINING TO LONGTERM GOAL ASSESSMENT AND RISKS TO SOCIETY REPRESENTED BY FURLOUGH PROGRAMS. SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED-LKM)