Final answer:
The release of an inmate on a holiday depends on the prison's policies and local laws. If scheduled for a holiday, the inmate may be released either just before or after, based on staff availability and operational procedures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the release of an inmate on a holiday and the procedures or policies surrounding this scenario.
Typically, the procedures for an inmate's release on a public holiday would depend on the regulations set by the specific prison or legal jurisdiction in question.
In the historical context provided, a period between Christmas and New Year's Day was allotted as a holiday, during which time labor was not required, and this may have been seen as time owned by the individuals, which could affect how prison releases would be handled if they coincided with holidays.
In the modern context of law enforcement and corrections, if an inmate is scheduled to be released on a holiday, the facility may either release the inmate on the last working day before the holiday or the next working day after the holiday, based on its operational policies.
This decision might also be influenced by whether the staff are available to process the release paperwork and provide any necessary post-release services during the holiday.
In general, it is important for anyone involved to be aware of the local laws and prison policies which will dictate the specifics of an inmate's release schedule during holidays.