A total of 387 release cases were studied involving 396 inmates. Cases from this same period in 1979 were used to determine changes in the program, and 198 inmates were followed up 6 months after release from prison. Data analysis showed that 49 percent of inmates in release programs were under 30 years of age, 42 percent had sentences ranging from 4 months to a year, and 30 percent had sentences of more than a year. Thirty-nine percent had committed property crimes, and 35 percent had prior criminal records. Most inmates were released from local institutions, and most were released for employment (64 percent) or education or training (31 percent). Most release programs covered up to a 60-day period. Of all inmates participating in release programs, only 65 or 16 percent committed violations. After final release from prison, 298 persons took up employment in the same field in which they had worked while in the program. The 6-month followup revealed that 1 month after getting out of prison, most program participants were employed, and about 9 percent with the company they worked for while in prison. After 6 months, 61 percent were still employed, but 22 percent had changed jobs. Data show that use of community release declined since 1979, but this may have been due to an increase in the number of inmates with prior criminal histories. Tabular data.