(1) When a hearing panel has granted an offender a parole, the panel or the board chair or designee may grant the offender a furlough for the sole purpose of finding employment, making suitable living arrangements, or fulfilling any other hearing panel condition that is difficult to fulfill while incarcerated.

(2) Furlough is for ten days, but board staff may grant an extension of up to another consecutive ten-day period to allow the offender to fulfill the furlough purposes.

(3) While on furlough the offender remains in the legal custody of the department and is subject to the department's furlough program rules, standard parole conditions, and any other special conditions recited by the hearing panel. If the offender fails to report as directed or fails to return to custody, the offender may be charged with a violation of 45-7-306, MCA.

(4) The offender may be immediately returned to the institution from which the furlough was granted if the offender violates the furlough program rules, any of the standard parole rules, any of the panel's special conditions, or if the offender is unable to fulfill the employment, housing, or other furlough conditions.

(5) If the offender violates any of the conditions listed in (4) it is considered a major disciplinary violation and is handled in accordance with the department's disciplinary policy and ARM 20.25.601 concerning rescission.

(6) If the offender successfully fulfills the furlough conditions, the offender must sign the rules of parole and the board will issue a parole certificate. The offender is not officially on parole until the rules are signed and the certificate is issued.