Work Release

The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction’s Work Release Program connects businesses with motivated, pre-screened individuals transitioning back into the workforce. As one of the largest and longest-running programs in the nation, this initiative helps fill critical labor shortages while supporting successful offender reentry into society.

By hiring work release participants, a business gains access to dedicated and prepared employees. Many soon-to-be-released offenders have completed training programs and are eager to prove their capabilities in a professional setting. Employers avoid additional costs as they are not required to provide medical or retirement benefits. The program also provides an opportunity for offenders to support their families and reduce the economic costs of their imprisonment.

Criteria for Participation

Work release participation is based on factors such as the sentence received, the statute under which sentenced, and the offender's behavior record. Participating offenders must be in the final stage of imprisonment and are carefully screened for participation by prison managers.

Program Operation

The program is available at the majority of the state's minimum custody prisons. Offenders are allowed to leave the prison each day to work and are required to return to the prison when their workday is finished.

  • Offenders must earn at least minimum wage. The job plan and job site must be reviewed and approved by prison managers.
  • Offenders must work in a supervised setting and cannot work for family members or operate their own businesses.
  • The work release employer must receive an orientation from NCDAC staff and agree to the rules of the program. The employer must have Worker's Compensation insurance.
  • Earnings from work release wages are used to pay pay court-ordered fines, fees, and restitution, family support, transportation costs, per diem to offset the cost of their incarceration, all the while saving money to better prepare for their release.

How It Works: A Simple Streamlined Process

  • Eligibility: Participants are in the final stage of their sentence, have shown good behavior, and meet our strict screening criteria.
  • Selecting the Right Fit: Employers have the opportunity to conduct interviews with participants, ensuring they select individuals who are the best match for their open positions. This helps create a strong foundation for success by aligning participants' skills and interests with the employer's needs.
  • Daily Operations: Participants work at approved job sites, earning at least minimum wage, and return to the facility upon the completion of their shift.
  • Employer Support: NCDAC provides guidance and training to ensure program success.

Why Employers Choose Our Work Release Program

  • A Skilled and Motivated Workforce: Many participants complete vocational training and certification programs in high-demand industries.
  • Financial Incentives: A business that participates in the Work Release program may be eligible for:
    •    Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC): $1,200-$9,600 per hire.
    •    Federal Bonding Program: FREE $5,000 fidelity bond per hire for the initial six months.
    •    Reduced costs associated with recruiting and turnover by hiring pre-screened candidates, eliminating the need for costly and lengthy hiring processes.
  • Labor Shortage Solution: Employers quickly fill vacancies in construction, manufacturing, agriculture, disaster recovery, food services, hospitality, landscaping, facility maintenance, automotive repair, etc.

Work Release Partnership Makes a Difference

  • Economic Growth: Participants help address labor shortages and contribute to the state's economy while offsetting taxpayer expenses related to correctional costs.
  • Financial Support: Offender earnings may go toward family support, restitution, judicial fees, and facility housing costs, helping offset the state's expenses.
  • Successful Reentry: Work release programs offer job experience, financial stability, and accountability, all crucial for reducing recidivism and ensuring successful offender reentry into society.

Measurable Impacts of a Sustainable Program

  • More than 5,000 participants over the past 5 years.
  • More than 800 participants at any given time from work release facilities across the state.
  • Employers report high performance, reliability and long-term success among work release hires.

What Employers Need to Know To Get Involved

  • Fair Competitive Wages: Employers must provide a secure, structured workplace and pay wages comparable to employees in similar roles.
  • Documentation: Employers must have workers' compensation insurance and submit the Policy Declaration Page, along with a background information for supervisors or employer-provided transportation drivers.
  • Training and Compliance: Supervisors and employer-provided transportation drivers are required to complete a brief two-hour orientation. Additionally, NCDAC staff will conduct regular site visits to support program compliance and ensure ongoing success for both employers and offenders.  

Contact Us

For more information or to join the program, reach out to one of our dedicated team members at WorkRelease@dac.nc.gov:

-- LaKeshia Jones, Central NC Employment Program Administrator. 
-- Tim Camp, Eastern NC Employment Program Administrator.
-- Eric Bergery, Jr., Central NC Employment Program Administrator.

Prospective employers interested in employing work release offenders may contact the minimum-security prison nearest their location.

 

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