NCJ Number
117211
Date Published
1989
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This study reports the results of a 1988 survey on American prisoner home furloughs.
Abstract
Corrections agencies in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the Bureau of Prisoners were surveyed by questionnaire and follow-up telephone interviews for their policies and practices on home furloughs. In 1988, 50 correctional systems had home furlough policies, with 50 systems also reporting authority to establish adult offender home furloughs for other than emergency purposes. Alaska, Illinois, Nevada, Washington, and Wyoming reported either no active or very conservative home furlough programs, and California and Hawaii report no home furlough programs. The correctional systems of Washington, Louisiana, Nevada, and Hawaii do not permit inmates to return home for emergencies. Forty systems responded that they thought home furloughs helped in the rehabilitation of offenders. Survey respondents reported that in 1988 approximately 200,000 American offender home furloughs were granted, with an abscondence rate of less than one half of one percent. Additionally, three systems reported that about 20 offenders were involved in criminal activity or arrested while on home furlough. A table identifies criteria used by criminal justice systems in selecting home furlough candidates in 1988. 4 references.