The median time served in confinement for individuals released from prisons in 33 States in 1984 was 17 months, or 45.4 percent of their original court-ordered sentences. Those released for violent offenses served a median time of 28 months, about twice as long as either property or drug offenders. Other findings include: (1) offenders who successfully completed parole had spent less time in confinement prior to being paroled than those who were eventually unsuccessful, (2) males on parole were more likely than females to be returned to custody for a parole violation, and (3) those who did not successfully complete parole served an average of 18 months on parole prior to revocation. 12 tables and 1 figure.