(a) Upon placing an inmate on supervised custody, work release or furloughs which shall include personal special visits whether escorted or unescorted the Department shall publish the name of that inmate and the crimes for which the inmate is incarcerated. Said information shall be published in each of the 3 counties of this State in a newspaper located in that county and having a general circulation throughout the county. No inmate shall be placed on supervised custody, work release or furloughs which shall include personal special visits whether escorted or unescorted until the notice provided for herein has been released for publication to the newspaper. This section shall not apply to those inmates being released on furlough or special visit for the purpose of attending the funeral of an immediate family member as specified under § 6538(b) of this title.
(b) In cases of inmates convicted of crimes against persons, including robbery, prior to publication of names, the Department shall notify the victim at the victim's last known place of residence.