SELECTED PRISONERS WHO WERE COMMITTED BY MUNICIPAL OR COUNTY COURTS TO A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, WERE PERMITTED THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS TO OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, OR IN THE CASE OF FEMALE OFFENDERS, TO ATTEND TO THEIR FAMILIES FOR SPECIFIED PERIODS. WORK RELEASE OBJECTIVES INCLUDE (1) STRENGTHENING WORK HABITS AND SKILLS, (2) CONTINUING INMATES' FAMILY AND COMMUNITY TIES, (3) TESTING FOR INMATE RELEASE READINESS, (4) ENABLING INMATES TO PROVIDE MONEY FOR COURT COSTS OR THEIR FAMILIES' SUPPORT, (5) HELPING INMATES MEET NONFINANCIAL FAMILY NEEDS. NEW JERSEY AIDS COUNTIES IN SETTING UP AND MAINTAINING WORK-RELEASE PROGRAMS; A LIST IS INCLUDED OF COUNTIES WITH WORK-RELEASE AUTHORIZATION. FROM THE PROGRAM'S INCEPTION IN 1969, WORK RELEASE PARTICIPANTS HAVE INCREASED FROM 348 TO 1,073, THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPATING COUNTIES RISING TO 20. IN 1977 AND 1978, 681 AND 750 INMATES, RESPECTIVELY, SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED WORK-RELEASE PROGRAMS, BUT A SMALL PERCENTAGE WERE REMOVED FROM WORK RELEASE FOR INFRACTIONS, JOB LOSSES, AND ESCAPES. WORK RELEASEES MAY BE RELEASED FROM UP TO ONE-FOURTH OF THEIR SENTENCES FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR, AND IN 1978, SENTENCES, WERE REDUCED FOR WORK RELEASEES BY 12,782 DAYS. IN 1977 AND 1978, THESE PRISONERS EARNED $894,195 AND $1,176,435, RESPECTIVELY. MONEY WAS APPORTIONED TO SAVINGS FOR INMATE USE AFTER RELEASE, FOR THEIR FAMILIES, AND FOR THEIR PRISON AND COURT EXPENSES. HOWEVER, COUNTY PROGRAMS FOR VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND FAMILY CARE RELEASE ARE LIMITED. COUNTIES EXPRESS A GROWING INTEREST IN WORK-RELEASE PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS SUCH AS INMATE FURLOUGHS, POSTPRISON COUNSELLING PROGRAMS, IMPROVED INMATE CLASSIFICATION, AND ANNUAL MEETINGS OF WORK-RELEASE PERSONNEL AND OFFICIALS. (PAP)