NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor Joe Hamilton, Acting Secretary
Patty McQuillan, Director of Public Information (919) 733-4926

MARCH 12, 1999

Work release prisoners earn money to pay for housing, child support and restitution

North Carolina work release prisoners paid $13.7 million for housing, child support and restitution by working more than 2.5 million hours in 1998.

"Work release is an important partnership between North Carolina businesses and prisons that helps to prepare prisoners for their return to our communities," said Acting Correction Secretary Joe Hamilton. "Through this program, they develop the habits and contacts that should help them find employment when they leave prison."

Work Release provides prisoners an opportunity to pay restitution, fines, family support and prison housing, and to set aside money for their release.

In 1998, prisoners worked 2,595,991 hours to earn $15.9 million. From those earnings, the department paid $1,585,363.98 as restitution to crime victims, $3,288,115.21 as child support as required by social services or court orders and $8,717,098 to the state general fund as part of the weekly rate charged work release prisoners for their housing. In 1998, the legislature increased the weekly housing charge from $62.50 to $70. Another $14,460.26 was paid in court costs.

North Carolina established the first prison work release program in the nation in 1957. It allows prisoners to leave prison each day to work for a business in the community.

Prison managers carefully screen minimum-security prisoners nearing release for participation in the program. They must approve the prisoner’s employer and employment.

Businesses enter into an agreement with the prison to participate in the program. They must agree to follow the program’s rules, pay at least minimum wage and provide Worker’s Compensation insurance. Prison managers tell the employer that prisoners must work in a supervised setting. The managers stay in frequent contact with the employer and make random checks on the prisoner at work.

Prisoners from 44 minimum-security prisons worked a total of 2,595,991 hours in 1998. Charlotte Correctional Center prisoners worked 198,657 hours. Prisoners at Anson Correctional Center worked 195,157 hours and at New Hanover Correctional Center, 162,041 hours.

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North Carolina Department of Correction

1998 work release hours totaled 2,595,991

¹Hours worked estimated *Prison closed in 1998 ** Prison opened in 1998

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