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Report on the Virginia Work Release Program

NCJ Number
91704
Author(s)
M Jones
Date Published
1982
Length
52 pages
Annotation
This report contains a review of the current literature on work release nationwide, and information on work release population trends in Virginia; facilities; selection process; and earnings.
Abstract
The characteristics of the work release population are presented and comparisons made between successful program completers and inmates removed from the program. At the time of the study, Virginia operated six work release units with an average daily population of 314. Assignments to the program were approximately evenly by race: 52 percent white and 48 percent nonwhite. Of the 92 removals from the program, 67 percent were nonwhite and 32 percent white. Compared with the general inmate population, work releasees are somewhat older; 10 percent had committed a violent person offense. The results suggest little difference in the background characteristics of inmates assigned to the program; inmates removed for disciplinary reasons; and inmates successfully discharged from work release to parole. Tabular data are given.