§15A-4A-6. Internal policy development.

(a) The commissioner shall develop operational procedures and policies for the work release program. The procedures and policies may, pursuant to §15A-3-12 of this code, allow the division to partner with contractors to be established at multiple sites, which sites shall subject to the control and authority of the commissioner.

(b) The procedures and policies shall include the following:

(1) A period of Imprisonment in work release of no more than 6 months prior to release on parole or discharge which period of Imprisonment may include substance abuse education, mandatory employment or employment skills training, social skills training, and psychological evaluation and treatment. Additionally, the state Board of Education and State Superintendent of Schools, pursuant to section five, article twenty, chapter eighteen of this code, respectively, may, as funds are available, establish an education program for those eligible offenders who are not recipients of a high school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalency.

(2) Policies and procedures identifying the facilities subject to the control and authority of the commissioner that will be used for offenders serving a sentence in a work release program;

(3) Policies and procedures establishing additional criteria the commissioner deems necessary and appropriate to determine eligibility and of offenders to serve the last portion of his or her sentence in a work release program;

(4) Policies and procedures to effectuate notification to a sentencing court of the performance of an eligible offender serving part of his or her sentence in a work release facility; and

(5) Any other policies and procedures that are necessary for the proper operation of the program.

(c) Upon successful completion of the work release program, an offender shall be released on parole or discharged in accordance with this article.

(d) An offender who does not satisfactorily complete the work release program shall be removed from the program and returned to serve the remainder of his or her sentence in a facility designated by the commissioner.