Missouri DOC Furlough Request Packet

MISSOURI DOC FURLOUGH REQUEST PACKET

READ THIS FIRST

Do not file this packet as a motion asking the sentencing court to grant a
furlough. RSMo 217.425 gives furlough authority to the Director of the Missouri
Department of Corrections (DOC). Under 14 CSR 20-28.010, an incarcerated person
starts the request with the person's classification treatment team. The request
then goes through the institution head to the Division of Adult Institutions
director or the director's assistant-director designee.

Only the Division director or authorized designee may approve the furlough. The
signed DOC Approval and Order for Inmate Furlough form—not a proposed court
order—is the approval instrument described by the rule.

Use this packet to organize a request and supporting documents. A facility may
require its own form, routing, signatures, deadlines, or additional information;
current facility instructions control.

1. REQUEST IDENTIFICATION

For an ordinary planned request, the rule requires the recommendation and
supporting documentation to reach the Division director or designee at least 30
days before the proposed leave. Work backward from the proposed start date and
allow time for classification-team and institution-head review. The emergency
procedure may waive the ordinary time frame; promptly contact facility staff
rather than assuming this packet creates emergency approval.

2. PERMITTED PURPOSE

Select the statutory purpose that actually applies. RSMo 217.425 authorizes
visits only to specifically designated places within Missouri for these
purposes:

☐ Visit a relative who is ill

☐ Attend the funeral of a relative

☐ Obtain medical services not otherwise available

☐ Contact prospective employers

☐ Participate in an approved rehabilitation program

☐ Community-release-program request evaluated under DOC procedures

Purpose and relationship, if applicable:

[____________________________________________________________]

[____________________________________________________________]

Do not label a personal visit, celebration, vacation, general family reunion,
or other unlisted reason as a statutory furlough purpose.

3. RULE ELIGIBILITY SCREEN

This worksheet does not decide eligibility. It helps staff and the requester
identify issues under 14 CSR 20-28.010 before assembling a full request.

Do not promise eligibility from this worksheet. Staff should apply the complete
current text of 14 CSR 20-28.010 to the person's actual record and request.

4. PURPOSE-SPECIFIC VERIFICATION

Attach reliable documents and identify a person whom DOC can contact to verify
the request. Do not include unnecessary medical or personal information.

A. Ill relative

B. Funeral of relative

C. Medical services not otherwise available

The rule provides that medical leaves are recommended by the institution's
chief medical person and are escorted. The requester should not arrange an
unescorted medical furlough independently.

D. Prospective employment

The rule limits this purpose to a person scheduled for release within six
months who has definite plans for job preparation.

E. Approved rehabilitation program

5. TIME-LIMIT CALCULATION

RSMo 217.425 generally limits furlough to 30 days per year. Under 14 CSR
20-28.010, the annual period begins on the date of the person's first furlough;
it is not automatically January 1 through December 31.

The Director may extend the 30-day limit for a person enrolled in a community
release program or needing emergency medical services. Do not assume an
extension applies; identify it for DOC decision:

☐ No extension requested

☐ Community release program: [________________________________]

☐ Emergency medical services: [________________________________]

6. DESTINATION, SPONSOR, AND TRANSPORTATION

Designated Missouri place

List every additional proposed stop on an attached sheet. No stop is authorized
unless DOC includes or permits it under the final conditions.

Sponsor or responsible contact

Transportation plan

Transportation is proposed only and remains subject to DOC approval and any
escort requirement.

7. SAFETY, REPORTING, AND RETURN PLAN

Complete the known information. DOC sets the actual conditions.

The person must comply with the signed DOC order and every condition. Under 14
CSR 20-28.010, failing to report as directed or returning late violates furlough
conditions. Criminal exposure, including whether Missouri's escape statutes
apply, depends on the facts and applicable law; this packet does not label every
condition violation as escape.

8. SUPPORTING NARRATIVE

Explain the request in a short, factual narrative. Address the statutory
purpose, why the furlough is necessary, the Missouri destination, verification,
transportation, return plan, and information supporting DOC's trust assessment.

[____________________________________________________________]

[____________________________________________________________]

[____________________________________________________________]

[____________________________________________________________]

9. ATTACHMENT CHECKLIST

☐ Purpose-specific verification described in Section 4

☐ Appointment, funeral, program, or employer schedule

☐ Missouri destination and contact verification

☐ Transportation and sponsor information

☐ Medical recommendation, if applicable

☐ Job-preparation plan and release-date record, if applicable

☐ Prior-furlough dates needed for the annual-period calculation

☐ Other document requested by classification staff: [________________________]

Avoid attaching full medical charts, identity documents, or unrelated sensitive
records when a narrower verification will do.

10. REQUEST TO CLASSIFICATION TREATMENT TEAM

I request that my classification treatment team review this packet under RSMo
217.425, 14 CSR 20-28.010, and current DOC instructions. I understand that:

1. this is not a court motion or an approval;
2. the classification treatment team and institution head make recommendations;
3. only the Division director or authorized designee may approve the furlough;
4. DOC may deny the request or impose conditions;

5. I may leave only after receiving the required DOC approval and instructions;
   and

6. I must follow every condition and return at the exact time and place ordered.

Signature: ________________________________________

Printed name and DOC number: [________________________________]

Date: [__/__/____]

Received by staff: ________________________________________ Date: [__/__/____]

11. OPTIONAL FAMILY OR COUNSEL COVER LETTER

To: Classification Treatment Team / [Classification Officer]

Institution: [________________________________]

Re: [FULL NAME], DOC No. [________] — furlough request materials

Dear [Classification Officer / Team]:

Enclosed are materials supporting [NAME]'s request for a furlough for the
purpose of [statutory purpose]. The proposed visit is to [specific place],
[city and county], Missouri, from [date/time] to [date/time].

The enclosed verification consists of [briefly identify documents]. The person
DOC may contact to verify the request is [name, role, telephone, and email]. The
proposed transportation and responsible contact are described in the packet.

Please route the request under current DOC procedures and advise what additional
facility form, verification, or information is required. This letter does not
ask a court or facility employee without approval authority to authorize release.

Respectfully,

[NAME]

[RELATIONSHIP OR COUNSEL INFORMATION]

[ADDRESS]

[TELEPHONE AND EMAIL]

12. DOC ROUTING AND NOTIFICATION NOTES

For staff or counsel review; remove if unnecessary:

• The classification treatment team receives the incarcerated person's request
  and makes its recommendation under 14 CSR 20-28.010.

• The institution head reviews the request before it reaches the Division
  director or authorized designee.

• For an ordinary request, the recommendation and supporting documentation must
  reach the approving authority at least 30 days before the proposed leave.
  The rule has an emergency process that can waive the ordinary time frame.

• After approval, the Division director or designee signs the DOC Approval and
  Order for Inmate Furlough form.

• RSMo 217.425 requires a copy of the Director's order at least 10 days in
  advance to the circuit judge, sheriff, and prosecuting attorney or circuit
  attorney for the sentencing county and the proposed-visit county. The advance
  requirement does not apply to a funeral or emergency-medical furlough.

• Statutory notifications are part of DOC's post-approval process. The requester
  should not substitute a certificate of service on a court motion.

CURRENT OFFICIAL AUTHORITIES VERIFIED

• RSMo 217.425, Missouri Revisor of Statutes, current text and history verified
  August 11, 2026:
  https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=217.425

• 14 CSR 20-28.010, Missouri Secretary of State, current Chapter 28 PDF verified
  August 11, 2026:
  https://www.sos.mo.gov/cmsimages/adrules/csr/current/14csr/14c20-28.pdf

The cited rule and statute may change. Recheck both official sources and current
facility instructions before using this packet.