This study assesses the effectiveness of work release programs.
Using a variety of econometric techniques to address the non-random selection of inmates into work release, this study finds that inmates who participate in work release have better post-prison employment outcomes than inmates who do not and that the labor market gains do not necessarily translate into reduced recidivism. United States prisons release more than 600,000 individuals each year. Within three years of release, 50 percent of released prisoners are back in prison. Work release has the potential to serve as a structured re-entry into the mainstream labor market. In an economic model of crime, an improvement in legal labor market opportunities should reduce criminal activity. While the unconditional estimates suggest a large positive labor market effect for three years following release, the various corrections for selection leave some doubt about the duration of a work release treatment. The reduction in recidivism is dependent on the types of crimes offenders committed. Better labor market opportunities reduce recidivism for those convicted of income generating offenses but have no impact on offenders who committed non-economically motivated crimes.