How did intermediate prisons test whether prisoners were ready for release?

In the Irish system of penology, intermediate prisons served as the final stage of a three-part rehabilitation program designed to test an offender's readiness for reintegration into society.12

After progressing through periods of solitary confinement and congregate work, prisoners were transferred to these intermediate facilities for a duration of six months or more. During this phase, the environment was characterized by minimal supervision, often involving only unarmed guards. This setting provided inmates with sufficient freedom and responsibility to demonstrate their dependability, employability, and overall fitness for life in the outside world.12

Successful completion of this stage did not guarantee permanent freedom; rather, it made the prisoner eligible for a "ticket of leave," a form of conditional release. If an offender failed to maintain good conduct after their release, they could be returned to prison. This emphasis on testing performance and behavior through graduated levels of responsibility significantly influenced the development of modern parole systems.12