Lancaster County Prison Work Release Program
OVERVIEW:
The Work Release Program places eligible inmates from prison into the community workforce. These inmates in return pay for their obligations to the County and also to the victims in their cases.
GENERAL PROGRAM INFORMATION:
The Lancaster County Work Release Program is a community-based program in which inmates that are made eligible by the Court are placed back out into the community workforce. A participant of the program is no longer subject to any further Court actions. This participant is responsible for paying for their Board and Lodging, Fines, Cost and Restitution, as well as Drug Testing Fee.
Most inmates that are eligible for this program have approved employment when they are committed to the prison. There is a percentage that does not. The program deals with local employers in fulfilling a need of employees by setting up interviews here at the prison. All new employment must start here with an interview and then the employer can also learn about the program as well. Only full-time positions can be filled, as the program calls for a participant to have no less then forty hours a week.
With the Court making inmate eligible for the Work Release Program, they are considered by the Prison's Classification System as minimum security inmates. The Work Release Program is the stepping stone for the inmate to return back into the Community.
RESPONSIBILITY OF EMPLOYERS:
There are some guidelines of the program that we request the employer to abide by. As the employer of a participant of the program you are required to immediately contact the Work Release Office in certain situations. Those situations are:
If the Work Release Participant is subject to any employee discipline such as being fired suspended, etc.
If the participant fails to report for work, as scheduled and/or fails to report for work on time.
Receives or places non-business related telephone calls.
Receives visits from family or fiends. (Inclusive of break times)
Departs employment area without permission of the employer and the Prison work Release Office (unless employer is notified in advance no authorization had been given by the Prison)
Indulging in ANY USE of ALCOHOL or DRUGS of ANY TYPE.
Crossing the Lancaster County lines for any reason.
Request of overtime
PROGRAM WALK-AWAYS
If a participant fails to arrive at the work place or leaves the work place and does not return to the Prison at their scheduled return time, this person will be considered as a walk-away. This action will result in the person being charged with "ESCAPE". The program relies on information from the employer as well as information from the public in trying to return these individuals back to the prison.
Information can be called into the local police departments as well as calling the prison with any information that you might have. All information is checked out and done in a confidential manner.
The prison can be contacted at: Work Release Administrator 717-299-7809
Work Release Asst. Administrator 717-299-7808
Work Release Officer's Office 717-299-7807
Main Prison's Number 717-299-7800
GENERAL CONTACT INFORMATION:
MICHAEL WEIDINGER , Work Release Administrator 717-299-7809
MAILING ADDRESS
Work Release Program
Lancaster County Prison
625 East King Street
Lancaster, PA 17602-3199
E-mail
WeidingM@co.lancaster.pa.us
