Beginning January 1, 1988, local governing bodies may establish regulations consistent with regulations of the Department of Corrections, and administer a program under which a person convicted of an offense against this State or other local jurisdiction and confined in local correctional facilities, or punished for contempt of court in violation of Section 20-7-1350 and confined in a local correctional facility may, upon sentencing, and while continuing to be confined in the facility at all times other than when the prisoner is either seeking employment, working, attending his education, or traveling to or from the work or education location, be allowed to seek work and to work at paid employment in the community, be assigned to public works employment, or continue his education. Each governing body shall designate the sheriff or another official as the official in charge. A person sentenced under these provisions is eligible for programs under this article except that a person punished for a violation of Section 20-7-1350 is eligible for these programs only upon a finding by the sentencing judge that he is eligible.