Corrections Needs to Strengthen Its Oversight of the Transitional Work Program

A performance audit of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections' Transitional Work Program (TWP) found that the department did not always know where offenders were located and did not ensure providers deducted victim restitution and other fees that offenders owed.

The program, which is commonly called work release, is run by either local sheriffs or private companies. As of June 2015, 27 providers operated 38 facilities throughout Louisiana. Program providers receive a per diem from the state, as well as commissary sales and 64% of TWP offender wages for room and board, all of which totaled more than $55 million in 2015.

In their examination, auditors said the program saved the state $12.1 million in 2015; however, almost half of the available TWP slots were not filled, resulting in the state losing out on $7 million a year in additional potential savings. In addition, Corrections did not ensure that providers deducted restitution and other obligations owed by TWP offenders, including $5 million owed to victims and $29 million in supervision fees owed to the department.

The audit noted that Corrections did not always know when an offender was transferred from one TWP facility to another or back to a local jail, which resulted in the department not always knowing where a TWP offender was on a daily basis. There also were 254 escapes from TWP facilities during 2014 and 2015.

In addition, Corrections does not limit how much an offender can spend on commissary purchases or cash allowances (a total of $6.4 million in 2015), which affects the offender's ability to accumulate savings to be used upon release and/or to pay restitution. Further, the department does not require that TWP providers offer rehabilitation programs like those offered in local jails and state institutions. Rehabilitation programs could help reduce recidivism rates.