610                               Laws of Maryland                      [Ch. 181

which a writ of habeas corpus is sought for any purpose other than
to challenge the legality of a conviction of a crime or sentence of
death or imprisonment therefor, including confinement as a result of
a proceeding under Article 31B of this Code.

§ 645K. Court may prescribe continuation of regular employment
or new employment; sheriff's duties; duties of Depart-
ment of Parole and Probation.

Whenever a person shall be convicted of a crime and sentenced to
imprisonment in any county, town or city jail by any [circuit] court
[, peoples' court, municipal court, or magistrate's court for] in
the counties to which this subtitle applies, the judge imposing sen-
tence may prescribe that insofar as possible the person may continue
his regular employment or obtain new employment while serving
the term of his sentence, and the judge shall designated either the
sheriff or the Department of Parole and Probation to supervise,
arrange for or obtain such employment.

If a convicted person has been regularly employed the sheriff or
the Department of Parole and Probation shall arrange for a continua-
tion of said work insofar as possible without interruption. The sheriff
or the Department of Parole and Probation shall make every effort to
secure some suitable employment for the prisoner if he is not em-
ployed in any job. The sheriff or the Department of Parole and Proba-
tion shall try to obtain employment for the prisoner paying a fair
and reasonable wage, and the prisoner shall work at fair and reason-
able employment and hours per day and per week.

§ 645T. Montgomery County.

(a)  Authority of judge.—[W] In Montgomery County, whenever a
person shall be convicted of a crime and sentenced to imprisonment
in any county, town, or city jail or detention center within [Mont-
gomery C] the county, by [the Circuit Court for Montgomery County
or the People's Court of Montgomery County] any court in the
county, the judge imposing sentence may, at the time of sentencing
or at any time during the prescribed term of detention, in accord-
ance with such programs as have been or will be enacted by the
County Council of Montgomery County, prescribe that the person
may continue his regular employment, obtain new employment, par-
ticipate in a training or rehabilitation program, or attend educational
institutions in the county, while serving the term of his sentence;
provided however, that such prescription shall in no event lengthen
or shorten the term of the sentence.

(b)   Establishment of work release program.—The Montgomery
County Council is authorized and directed to establish a "work re-
lease" program under which persons sentenced to imprisonment
in the county detention center, or other such similar institution under
the jurisdiction of the county, by a judge [of the Circuit Court for
Montgomery County or a judge of the People's Court of Montgomery
County], may be granted the privilege of leaving actual confinement
during necessary and reasonable hours for the purpose of working
at gainful private employment. Such program may also include, under
appropriate conditions, release for the purpose of seeking such em-
ployment. Whenever the prisoner is not employed, or otherwise par-
ticipating in his work release program, he shall be confined in the
detention center unless the committing court shall direct otherwise.