(a)  The classification board shall, immediately prior to the release of any prisoner on work release, notify the victim of the crime committed by the prisoner, or in homicide cases, a member of the immediate family of the victim, if any is identified, and shall further notify the police department in the community where the crime for which the prisoner was sentenced was committed, and the police department in the community where the prisoner was residing at the time of the commission of the offense, and the police department in the community where the prisoner will be working.

(b)  Prior to making a final determination on whether to place a prisoner imprisoned for any crime for which a life sentence has been imposed in the work release program, the director shall notify, in writing, the victim of the crime or a member of the immediate family of the victim if the crime is a homicide, if any is identified, and the police department of the city or town where the inmate lived prior to incarceration and the police department where the crime was committed and the police department where the inmate is to be working that the prisoner is under consideration for work release. No final decision regarding the placement of the prisoner in the work release program shall be made until the victim or the family of the victim and the police departments so notified have been afforded at least ten (10) days in which to comment, in writing, to the director on the proposed release. The director shall consider the comments of the victim or the victim’s family and the police prior to making a final determination.