In the open jail I worked in there was even a prisoner who was the jail minibus driver. He would take any prisoner due for release to the rail station in the prison minibus. He also used to take prisoners to court hearings and pick them up afterwards, they were normally unescorted. He would hand them over to the court officials and pick them up from them again. Many of the long term prisoners in 'my' nick has outside jobs, they would be given a lift to their place of work and picked up afterwards, again it was the prison minibus driver's responsibility. The prison kitchen made them packed lunches every day as they allowed no actual cash.
The out workers got the normal rate for the job but the cash was put into a bank account which was not available until after release.
This was to prepare them for a return to 'real life' and prevent them just reoffending and coming straight back, the program was hailed as very successful!
No one I knew of took advantage as they knew any breaking of the rules would see them sent straight back to closed conditions where they would be locked up 23 hours a day!
I will now sit back and wait for the howels of protest!
Did you know that long term prisoners in open jails are allowed 24 hour home visits in the last months of their sentence? Again it is to prepare them for 'real life'!
Cue more protests!