1812                             Laws of Maryland                      [Ch. 720

(e)    The Commissioner is authorized to adopt such reasonable
regulations as are necessary to carry out the power granted herein.

(f)    Failure to comply with the terms of an authorization for
leave shall be considered as a violation of the provisions of Section
139 of this article.

700C.

(a)    The Commissioner of Correctional Services may authorize
special leave within or without this State in accordance with the
provisions of this section for any inmate confined in any of the in-
stitutions under his jurisdiction who has been selected to participate
in a prerelease program. Inmates qualified for the prerelease program
are those who are serving within the last three months of their sen-
tence, or approved for the parole supervision.

(b)    Leave for an inmate in a prerelease program may be author-
ized to allow time for employment interviews, or as a part of a pre-
release program relating to employment.

(c)    Leave may be authorized for an inmate or group of inmates
in a prerelease program to leave AN institution for participation in
special community programs or educational programs, which have
as their purpose the rehabilitation of inmates.

(d)     (1) Any prisoner who has participated for at least two
(2) months in a prerelease program as authorized by this section
may be granted weekend leave [in this State]; provided however,
that the prisoner shall have the recommendation of his direct super-
visor in the prerelease program.

(2) Final authorization and the terms and conditions for such
leave shall be granted only by the Commissioner of Correction and
may be conditioned upon the prisoner's agreement to waive his right
to contest extradition proceedings. A weekend shall consist of a
period of time no longer than from 6 p.m. Friday to 6 p.m. Sunday
immediately following.

700D.

Upon the recommendation of treatment staff, with the approval of
the warden or superintendent of any State penal or reformatory in-
stitution under his jurisdiction, the Commissioner of Correction may
authorize special leave to an inmate either within or without this
State to leave an institution for participation in special community
or other meritorious programs or activities deemed beneficial to the
inmate, and not detrimental to the public, by both the warden or
superintendent and the Commissioner of Correction and which in
their judgment would contribute to the rehabilitation process of the
respective inmate. To be considered for this special leave the in-
mate shall be eligible solely upon the concurrence of the warden or
superintendent and the Commissioner of Correction that positive at-
titudinal and growth patterns are being established. All special leaves
must be issued in writing and must be signed by both the warden or
superintendent and by the Commissioner of Correction, and this
authority may not be delegated. As a condition of granting such
leave, the Commissioner may require the inmate's agreement to
waive his right to contest extradition proceedings. All such orders
must be kept on file in the Department. Special leave may only
be for the purpose of: