It is the policy of the Legislative Assembly to encourage better rehabilitative care to misdemeanants by encouraging the establishment of regional correctional facilities that can effectively provide a program that not only includes better custodial facilities than can be provided by cities or counties individually, but also that can provide work release, educational and other types of leave, and parole supervision by the Department of Corrections. [1971 c.636 § 1; 1987 c.320 § 99]