PRERELEASE SERVES AS A LINK IN THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM BETWEEN SECURITY INSTITUTIONS AND PROBATION OR PAROLE. CRIMINAL JUSTICE EXPERTS SUGGEST THAT LACK OF PREPARATION FOR REENTRY INTO SOCIETY FROM PRISON MAY EXPLAIN, AT LEAST IN PART, THE HIGH RECIDIVISM RATES OF EX-OFFENDERS. THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND, WORK RELEASE/PRE-RELEASE PROGRAM OFFERS ITS CLIENTS A VARIETY OF SERVICES, A CAREFULLY STRUCTURED PROGRAM, AND CONSCIENTIOUS APPLICATION OF ITS RULES AND STANDARDS. CLIENTS ARE HELPED IN FINDING JOBS OR ENROLLING IN ACADEMIC OR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION; THEY ATTEND WEEKLY COUNSELING AND SOCIAL AWARENESS CLASSES IN THE PRERELEASE FACILITY AND PARTICIPATE IN SOME FORM OF THERAPY IN THE COMMUNITY. A CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT AND PHASED RELEASE PLAN CLEARLY DEFINE HOW CLIENTS MAY EARN FURLOUGHS AND OTHER PRIVILEGES AND GRADUALLY PREPARE FOR FREEDOM IN THE COMMUNITY. THE PRE-RELEASE CENTER HAS A WALK-OFF RATE OF LESS THAN 5 PERCENT AND A LOWW RECIDIVISM RATE AMONG ITS CLIENTS WHO ARE RELEASED SUCCESSFULLY (22.2 PERCENT REARRESTED, 11.6 PERCENT CONVICTED). AS A RESULT OF THE CENTER'S ACHIEVEMENTS, MONTGOMERY COUNTY AND THE STATE OF MARYLAND ARE JOINTLY FUNDING CONSTRUCTION OF A MULTIUNIT FACILITY DESIGNED EXPRESSLY FOR PRERELEASE PURPOSES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED -- VDA)