The Impact of a Work Release Program on Post-Prison Recidivism in Taiwan

Extensive research has consistently demonstrated that gainful employment after incarceration is a critical factor in supporting the successful reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals into society. While recent studies conducted in Western contexts have shown that work release programs (WRPs) facilitate this reintegration, their effectiveness in reducing recidivism remains largely unexplored in Asian societies. This study analyzes archival data from Taiwan's Agency of Corrections, focusing on a 2020 parole cohort of 8,249 individuals as the study target population. Using propensity score matching (PSM), participants from 2018 and 2019, before parole release, were grouped into the WRP (Autonomous Out-Of-Prison Labor [AOPL], n = 462) as the treatment group and the non-WRP group (n = 4,620) as the comparison group. Follow-up data from 2020 through May 2023 were used to examine reoffending rates and timing. Conditional logistic regression models revealed that AOPL participation significantly reduced the likelihood of recidivism. Proportional hazards models further indicated that AOPL participants reoffended later than their non-participating counterparts, underscoring the potential of WRPs to enhance reintegration outcomes in Taiwan.