FORUM on Corrections Research

Personal development temporary absences (R-65, 1998)

Brian A. Grant, and Sara L. Johnson

Temporary absences (TAs) for personal development were first mandated in the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (1992) in an attempt to clarify the purposes for which TAs could be granted and to ensure consistency in their use across the country. These temporary absences (TAs) could be for up to 15 or 60 days and the 15-day absences could be with or without an escort. Personal development TAs was found to be used for the purpose indicated in the CCRAwith alcohol and drug abuse treatment being the most common program specified.

Personal development TAs, unlike other types of TAs which last between one and three days, are granted for extended periods of time, either 15 or 60 days. However, most of the personal development TAs are actually taken one day at a time or several days at a time over an extended period. Many of the personal development UTAs are taken a few days at a time, but on multiple occasions, while some are taken for extended continuous periods.

Overall, personal development TAs offer many opportunities for offenders to be released into the community in order to attend programming not available in the institutions. Personal development TAs, therefore, can provide additional help with the process of reintegrating offenders into the community that they will eventually be released to.