FURLOUGHS AID OFFENDER REINTEGRATION INTO SOCIETY, REWARD POSITIVE BEHAVIOR WITHIN THE INSTITUTIONAL SETTING, AND AID THE PAROLE BOARD IN DETERMINING WHEN AN INMATE IS READY TO BE RELEASED. A 1972 NATIONAL SURVEY FOUND THAT 44 STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HAVE SOME TYPE OF FURLOUGH PROGRAM. THE GENERAL SUCCESS RATE FOR ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS IS 90 PERCENT. SUCH PROGRAMS ARE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL TOOLS FOR ACHIEVING THE GOALS OF IMPLEMENTING GRADUAL RETURN TO SOCIETY FOR INMATES, ENCOURAGING SELF-RESPECT AND RESPONSIBILITY, AND EMPHASIZING CONTINUING INCLUSION IN THE COMMUNITY. FURLOUGHS ARE GRANTED FOR MANY PURPOSES. EMERGENCY FURLOUGHS, WITH A MAXIMUM TIME LIMIT OF 7 DAYS, ARE GRANTED FOR VISITING A CRITICALLY ILL FAMILY MEMBER OR ATTENDING THE FUNERAL OF A FAMILY MEMBER. POSTRELEASE EMPLOYMENT OR RESIDENCE FURLOUGHS MAY BE GRANTED TO INMATES WITHIN 60 DAYS OF A FINAL RELEASE DATE, WITHIN 60 DAYS OF A PAROLE BOARD HEARING, OR WITHIN 60 DAYS OF THE ESTABLISHED PAROLE DATE. THE MAXIMUM TIME LIMIT FOR THIS TYPE OF FURLOUGH IS 3 DAYS. ADDITIONAL TYPES OF FURLOUGH INCLUDE HOME VISIT, WORK AND EDUCATION RELEASE, HOSPITALIZATION, SPECIAL TRAINING COURSE, AND TRANSFER FURLOUGHS. MINIMUM TIMES MUST BE SERVED, ACCORDING TO LENGTH OF SENTENCE AND CRIME, BEFORE THE INMATE IS ELIGIBLE FOR A FURLOUGH. REQUESTS ARE PROCESSED THROUGH ASSIGNED COUNSELORS, THE FURLOUGH COMMITTEE, AND THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE INSTITUTION. THERE ARE 10 PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS IN THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. DURING FISCAL YEAR 1977 THROUGH 1978, 12,093 FURLOUGHS WERE GRANTED WITH A SUCCESS RATE OF 99.81 PERCENT. STATISTICAL TABULAR INFORMATION IS INCLUDED IN THE REPORT. (LWM)