They are rewarded for positive efforts toward social and professional development, as well as positive conduct within the institution community. However, the PRAS program also allows heavily penalizing poor performance, misconduct, and idleness. In order to receive coveted points, an inmate must perform satisfactorily. When it is determined that an inmate has not performed satisfactorily in a particular program, a failure is given in that assignment. This means that all points are lost in all programs of that type for that day.
Failures result in smaller cash and non-cash awards at the end of the month.
PRAS also deducts points for institutional misconduct. Traditionally, there has been no relationship between inmate program assignments and institutional conduct throughout the institution for all activities. PRAS, designed to promote positive, pro-social behavior for all inmates engaged in all activities, has changed that. Today, PRAS motivates and encourages positive performance in all structured and unstructured activities by tying inmate conduct to something of importance to them, cash and non-cash awards, which equates to freedom and quality of life. Not only does this motivate inmates to behave positively, but also it motivates inmates to encourage each other to behave cooperatively.