For inmates who are starting to plan for life after incarceration, delayed or unexpected release dates can scramble job opportunities and housing arrangements. A number of factors can affect release dates, including paperwork issues, miscommunication among corrections staff and changes to the way state corrections departments calculate time served.

Ben Botkin covers criminal justice and health for the Oregon Capital Chronicle. Paul Kiefer is an intern at InvestigateWest. They join us to share more about their recent reporting on how delayed or unexpected release dates can impact inmates’ lives in Oregon and Washington, respectively.