(A) The court of common pleas and each municipal and county court in a county in which all of those courts agree on uniform standards may provide by rule for a work-release program to permit any prisoner in a county or city jail or workhouse, other than a prisoner sentenced under a non-suspendable sentence, to be employed with the prisoner's consent outside of the jail or workhouse. In any county in which the common pleas court, after reasonable efforts to obtain such an agreement, determines that such an agreement is not possible, the court, after reasonable notice to all interested courts and officials, shall place into effect rules of the court making provision for a work-release program available to all courts within the county. These rules shall limit the participants eligible for the work release program at any one time to a number established by the officer in charge of the county or city jail or workhouse in which the prisoners are confined. The limit shall be based upon the number of beds that may be allocated for the work release program under the classification plan of the facility adopted pursuant to rules adopted pursuant to section 5120.10 of the Revised Code.

(B) Any court that establishes a work-release program under division (A) of this section shall adopt rules prescribing the conditions under which a prisoner is to leave the jail or workhouse during the hours of the prisoner's employment and go to and from work. The rules shall limit the hours of work-release to the hours of work plus a reasonable period of time for travel to and from the work site. The rules shall require a prisoner requesting additional travel time or modification to the hours of employment to justify the need for the additional travel time or modification to the hours of employment.

(C) Upon approval of the sentencing judge located in any jurisdiction having a work-release program and subject to division (A) of this section, any person sentenced to a county or city jail or workhouse shall be permitted to participate in a work-release program. The sentencing judge may modify the conditions of work-release as the judge considers appropriate.

(D) The court shall not assign a prisoner to work in an establishment where a legally constituted strike is in process.

(E) Any prisoner participating in a work-release program shall be paid remuneration, subject to garnishment, and have hours and other conditions of work that are substantially equal to those prevailing for similar work in the locality.

(F) If the officer in charge of the county or city jail or workhouse believes that a prisoner participating in the work-release program has violated the conditions of work-release, the officer may temporarily suspend the prisoner's work-release privileges pending the outcome of the hearing described in this division. The officer shall provide notice to the prisoner and to the sentencing judge on the next day that the court is in session. The sentencing judge shall hold a hearing to determine whether the prisoner violated the conditions of work-release and, if the prisoner is found to have violated the conditions of work release, take appropriate action.

Effective Date: 10-16-1996.