SURVEY OF THE HOME FURLOUGH POLICIES OF AMERICAN CORRECTIONAL AGENCIES

• NCJ Number: 10567
• Journal: Criminology Volume: 11 Issue: 1 Dated: (MAY 1973) Pages: 95-104
• Author(s): R R SMITH; M A MILAN
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 10 pages
• Corporate Author: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

DATA ON THE NUMBER OF AGENCIES ALLOWING UNSUPERVISED HOME FURLOUGHS FOR EMERGENCY AND REHABILITATION PURPOSES, AND STATISTICS ON THE RATES OF ABSCONDENCE IN THESE PROGRAMS.

Abstract

OF THE 52 CORRECTIONAL AGENCIES SURVEYED, 45 REPORTED ONGOING PROGRAMS OF EMERGENCY LEAVE. THESE FURLOUGHS ARE USUALLY GRANTED FOR PURPOSES SUCH AS VISITS TO A DYING RELATIVE OR FUNERALS. TWENTY-FIVE AGENCIES REPORTED FURLOUGH PROGRAMS FOR REHABILITATION PURPOSES. 'THE CRITERIA UNDER WHICH THESE VARIOUS AGENCIES GRANT HOME FURLOUGHS TYPICALLY STIPULATE THAT PERSONS CONSIDERED FOR THE PROGRAM BE OF MINIMUM CUSTODY STATUS, HAVE EITHER SERVED A FIXED AMOUNT OF THEIR SENTENCE OR BE WITHIN SOME FIXED TIME OF RELEASE, AND BE APPROVED BY A REVIEW COMMITTEE WHICH CONSIDERS THE APPLICANTS' INSTITUTIONAL RECORD, HOME SITUATION, AND PAST HISTORY. EXCLUSIONS COMMONLY INCLUDE THOSE WHO ARE SERVING LIFE SENTENCES OR WHO HAVE COMMITTED NOTORIOUS OR HEINOUS CRIMES, CRIMES OF VIOLENCE, OR SEX OFFENSES. THE SUCCESS OF THESE PROGRAMS, AS INDEXED BY REPORTED ABSCONDENCE, IS REMARKABLY HIGH, WITH MORE THAN HALF THE AGENCIES WHICH SUPPLIED SUCH DATA REPORTING RATES LOWER THAN 1 PER 100.' (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)