Prison furlough
A prison furlough is when a prisoner is allowed to leave prison and then return. Furloughs can be escorted or unescorted. When the prisoner has to be accompanied by guards, often he is required to pay for these expenses of the furlough. Furloughs are sometimes granted for medical reasons, to attend funerals, or to make contact for employment upon release. There is some evidence that furloughs reduce recidivism, although there have also been high-profile cases in which furloughed prisoners committed crimes while on furlough, or returned late or remained at large. In the Federal Bureau of Prisons, furloughs are not considered a reward for good behavior, nor a means to shorten a criminal sentence, but are intended strictly to further correctional goals.
