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Work Release Program

1. Provide, in a jail setting, a highly structured residential center for carefully screened offenders who meet established criteria for admission.
2. Maximize the opportunities for the offender to change himself and conditions resulting in criminal action through participation in programs and services which facilitate personal change and growth, encourage individual responsibility, improve individual self-esteem, increase individual problem solving skills, thereby offering an alternative to a life of crime.
3. Return the offender to the community with appropriate employment, residence and savings to minimize the risk of a return to crime.
4. Operate a correctional program that offers economic and social advantages to the community as well as to the offender.
5. Operate the LIWO Program in such a manner that the community does not feel threatened by its presence and is comfortable with and be supportive of the project.

The stated goals are attained by allowing the participant to :

1. Continue or begin employment, further education or vocational training and contribute to family support.
2. Participate in community services and activities such as drug and alcohol counseling, adult education programs , college courses and other approved community resources so as not to allow the offender to develop a feeling of alienation from the community necessitating re-orientation upon release.
3. Continue or acquire the self-respect that comes from self-support and personal accomplishment to allow the resident to remain or become a contribution, constructive member of the community.
4. Participate in a transitional release experience that leads to better personal responsibility on the part of the offender, leading to decreased fears of the offender and community alike during the adjustment period immediately following release.
5. Receive help with the budgeting of his finances so that he may effectively meet financial obligations and, if possible, accumulate a small savings so as to make the transition period upon release a little less difficult.

   LIWO participants are constantly monitored as they go to work, counseling sessions and other approved activities. Tests to determine the presence of chemical substances are administered on a regular basis to assure compliance that abuse of those substances is not occurring. Participants are referred to appropriate community services for indicated counseling needs and they also receive in-house counseling to help them to resolve problems.

   The cost factor of operating the LIWO program is minimal compared to the cost of running a maximum security unit of the same size. Participants in the program, once they become employed, are required to pay room and board for their stay in the program. The rate of reimbursement is fixed, with a built-in mechanism for adjustments as warranted by the individual's particular ability to pay. All of the participant's money is collected through the program and they are required to support their families. They are also taught to budget their money so they can meet other financial obligations such as payments for mortgage, vehicles, etc. Teaching them to properly channel their funds is important in helping to adjust negative behavior, possibly leading to decreased repeat offenses. Also, as the participants are gainfully employed, they to are taxpayers and are self-supporting as opposed to merely consuming tax dollars.

Criteria for admission to the LIWO Program is as follows

1. Sentenced by the Circuit or District Court of Calvert County.
2. Screening indicates amenability to adjustment in a setting such as previously described including ability to follow rules, set personal limitations and refrain from further criminal activity. (Screening includes careful study of the Pre-Sentence Investigation, medical reports inclusive of any psychiatric, drug/ alcohol treatment rendered, all other information pertinent to the case and a personal interview.)
3. Lack of medical problems that would prevent participation in the normal routine of the program.
4. No extensive history of prior revocations of work release, probation or parole.

While these represent the basic criteria for selection, there are other factors that can be considered in the decision-making process.

Work Release II Program

The Work Release II Program is designed to provide confinement for minimum security, sentenced offenders, while also offering opportunities for them to continue working at their own vocations.

Only inmates with court ordered work release commitments will be considered for placement in the program. Inmates with detainers from other jurisdictions will not be considered, until the detainer has been satisfied.

Inmates placed on work release are subject to the same in-house rules and regulations and are entitled to good time diminution of sentence while on work release. (Inmates incarcerated for child support are not entitled to accumulate good time.)

In addition to the rules and regulations outlined in the inmate handbook the following general rules and guidelines apply to work release II inmates:

1. At all times conduct myself in an orderly fashion while at the Detention Center and while on work release.
2. Not be absent from approved day's activities without the prior approval of the work release staff.
3. Not have unauthorized contact with any person, including family, while on work release, except my fellow workers.
4. Inmates from each dorm are responsible for the cleaning, daily of their living quarters. Failure to keep living areas clean will result in all inmates being suspended from work until areas are up to par.
5. No storing of foods of any kind, except unopened commissary items
6. Beepers and/or work tools and equipment will not be allowed into the facility.
7. No contact or passing of anything to inmates in other dorms or holding areas. This could result in the suspension of your work release.
8. If you oversleep more than 1/2 hour, you will not be able to go to work.
9. Overtime will only be approved through the Work Release Office during regular office hours.
10. Persons working a rotating shift, must keep schedules current in order to be released for work.
11. No one will work seven (7) days straight.
12. You must have reliable transportation.
13. Unexcused lateness - A breathalyzer and urinalysis will be taken and you will be held in until seen by someone from the Work Release Staff
14. All employers will be notified of persons on the work release program.
15. Problems of any kind should be directed to the Work Release Office.

Allowable Property

Self - Employed / Working for Relatives

1. Provide pay records and any two items of the following documentation:
   • Taxes
   • Current contracts
   • Signed estimates for proof of work
   • Pay records
2. Hours of work will be calculated on the company's regular business day.
3. Pay records are required from everyone on work release in the form of:
   • Pay stubs
   • Time Cards
   • Verification on company letterhead signed by an officer of the company
   • Person's granted Work Release, will not be allowed to work for persons currently on Work Release,

Automatic Work Release Violations

1. Not reporting for work.
2. Not keeping room and board payments current
3. Positive alcohol or drug screening
4. Detainers, warrants or violation of probation
5. Over the counter medication resulting in positive readings of drug or alcohol.
6. Leaving work to take care of personal business (Doctors, Attorneys appointments, etc.) without permission from the Work Release Staff.
7. Not fulfilling the conditions of Work Release Contract.
8. Violation of any of the rules of the Work Release Contract. If you are violated from work release, you are indicating to the sentencing authority that you are not committed to making those changes necessary for you to remain crime-free. You are not prepared to honestly accept responsibility for your behavior or demonstrate that responsibility through your actions.

Community Release Programs

Mission Statement

The mission of the Calvert County Community Supervision Unit is to maximize the release options for eligible defendants from physical incarceration.  Calvert County Detention Center is committed to maintaining Public Safety in our community.  The Calvert County Detention Center can monitor sentenced and Pre-trial inmates through various lavels of supervision as ordered by the court.

Goals of the Community Supervison Unit

The Community Supervision Unit has been established for the supervision and monitoring of defendants, who present minimal danger to the community, if released on the probram.  It also provides complete and accurate information to the Judges, noting wether a defendant is eligible for release under the options program.

The Community Supervision Unit expands the number of release options available to the court and reduces unnecessary pretrial detention for appropriate defendants.  It also helps to minimize a defendant's failure to appear rate and promotes greater compliance with Court conditions of release, by maintaining contact with defendants through various levels of case management.

The Community Supervision Unit shall regularly review the case file of each defendant in order to ascertain changes in status.

Community Supervision Unit will provide early identification of defendants having substance abuse issues and make referrals for treatment.  The Community Supervision Unit Staff will also assist defendants in making positive lifestyles changes such as: obtaining employment, anger management classes, health and hygiene issues, educational courses, etc.

Screening Process

1.  The Community Supervision Unit Supervisor has set guidelines to determine if a person is eligible for the program.

2.  The Community Supervision Unit Staff will conduct an interview and gather background information on defendants.  The information gathered would be basis for recommendations provided to the courts.

3.  Once the interview is completed, the Community Supervision staff will attempt to verify the information prolvided by the defendant.

4.  Recommendations when appropriate will be submitted to the Courts.

Placement on the Community Supervision Unit

The Circuit/District Court Judges of the Calvert County may place defendants on various Options programs supervised by the Community Supervision Unit.  The Judge will consider the recommendations made by the Community Supervision Unit and approve or make any changes he deems necessary.

Once documentation is received from the Courts, the Community Supervision staff will review the conditions of the appropriate program with the defendants.  Teh Community Supervision staff will explain the program to the defendant and have them sign the contract.

The Community Supervision staff will monitor all defendants placed on the program based on their level of supervision.

Levels of Supervision

1.  Level I Defendants - will be required to call the Community Supervision Unit twice a week.

2.  Level II Defendants - will be required to call the Community Supervision Office twice a week.  During the initial face to face contact, the conditions of release will be reviwed, with drug monitoring and breathalyzer appointments being established.  The defendant will be expected to maintain this schedule until changes are approved by the Community Supervision Unit.  The defendant will be required to meet with the Supervisor once a week.

3.  Level III Defendants - Will be required to call the case manager twice a week.  During the initial face to face contact, the conditions of release will be reviewed, with drug monitoring and breathalyzer appointments being assigned.  The defendant will be expected to maintain this schedule until changes are approved by the Community Supervision Staff.  Due to the fact that defendants in this area are at a higher risk of failing to comply with the conditions of release, they will be required to meet with case manager twice a week.

4.  Level IV Defendants - will be superkvised using electronics.  The case manager will also outline a detailed program schedule for defendants placed in the program at this level.  (i.e. work release, treatment programs, drug testing).  Inmates supervised at this level will be required to pay a daily supervision fee.  Fees will be determined at the time of placement into the program.

Telephone Communication

It is the responsibility of the defendant to contact the Community Supervision Unit upon his release as indicated on teh Conditions of Release form.  The Community Supervision Staff will review all conditions of release in detail to ensure the defendant remains in compliance.

Supervision Records

The Community Supervision Services Unit has developed procedures for monitoring and documenting  defendant's compliance with the conditions of the program.  This helps to ensure the defendants appearance in court and their compliance with their conditions of release.

Request for Warrant

The Community Supervision Unit may request an arrest warrant and the removal of the defendant from the program if he is found to be in violation.  All requests for a warrant will be forwarded to the appropriate Judge for approval.

Discovery of Warrant

Once the Community Supervision staff determines that a warrant has been issued for a person participating in the program, staff will verify the warrant with the appropriate agency.  Once it is dertermined that an outstanding warrant does exist and/or the defendant has not been compliant with his/her release conditions, the Supervision will coordinate the defendant's arrest with the appropriate agency.  All warrants will be handled by a Law Enforcement Agency.

Closing Cases

The Community Supervision Services Unit will close cases on all defendants when the defendant has successfully completed the program or has been violated from the program.

-a defendant's case is successfully completed when the defendant appears in court and there is a final disposition or when hte sentance of the Court has been served in full.

-The defendant's case is considered to be unsuccessful when the defendant fails to appear for court or a warrant is issued and the defendant is violated from the program.