The purpose of the term of control release supervision is not clearly defined. Control release offenders are subject to limited surveillance and control, and few resources and services are available to assist their re-entry into the community.
Offenders placed in control release supervision receive minimal levels of surveillance.
As a result, control release supervision may not be significantly protecting the public's safety. Offenders under regular control release supervision are subject to the lowest levels of surveillance and control of any of the Department's direct supervision programs. During fiscal year 1991-92, the CRA returned nearly 3,000 offenders to prison for violating control release. The reincarceration of offenders who have not committed new crimes may work against the primary purpose of control release, which is to selectively release offenders from prison to maintain the state prison system population within lawful capacity.