Inmates on work release are still property of the system and are not afforded furloughs unless they are specifically granted them. "Going home" is considered an escape unless there is an approved furlough in place.

Generally, it is easier to get a furlough from the halfway house than from the prison itself. halfway house is a transitional time where the inmate is given small time periods to go home and be with their family, find a job or go to religious services. A furlough is an authorized absence from an institution by an inmate who is not under escort of a staff member, a US Marshal, other federal or state agent. Furloughs

A furlough is not a right but a privilege granted a federal prison inmate under prescribed conditions. It is not a reward for good behavior, or a means to shorten a criminal sentence. A furlough is defined as “an authorized absence from a federal prison by an inmate who is not under escort of a staff member, U.S. Marshal, or state or federal agents”. Getting a furlough approved is a long shot, but not impossible. It doesn't happen often