Certain eligible offenders may enter a traditional work release center from six (6) months to three (3) years prior to release from incarceration, depending on the offense of conviction. Offenders who are approved for work release are required to work at an approved job and, when not working, they must return to the structured environment of the assigned work release facility. Probation and Parole Officers are assigned monitoring responsibilities for contract work release facilities. This may include conducting random drug screens and random shakedowns of the facility. Additionally, the Probation and Parole Officer is part of the Auditing Teams that conduct annual audit of work release facilities. Work release programs are successful in assisting an offender with making the transition from prison back into the work force. Approximately 10 to 20 percent of offenders remain with their employer upon release. The work release program is also utilized as a valuable alternative for technical parole violators, in lieu of returning them to prison.

Click here for a list of work release facilities throughout the state.