Research/Document Library

Work Release: Recidivism and Corrections Costs in Washington State, National Institute of Justice Research in Brief

This Research in Brief presents findings from two studies of Washington’s work release program, conducted under a National Institute of Justice (NIJ) grant between 1991 and 1994. Overall, the studies found that the program achieved its most important goal: preparing inmates for final release and facilitating their adjustment to the community. The program did not cost the State more than it would have if the releasees had remained in prison. The public safety risks were nearly nonexistent because almost no work releasee committed new crimes, and when they committed rule violations they were quickly returned to prison.

Available online

http://www.ncjrs.gov/

Author(s)

Susan Turner and Joan Petersilia

Date

December 1996

State

Washington

Publisher

The National Institute of Justice