Four major studies examined the relationship between employment of ex-offenders and recidivism. The Living Insurance for Ex-offenders (LIFE) program, Transitional Aid Research Project (TARP), and the Supported Work Project were field experiments involving random assignment to experimental and control conditions. The fourth correlational study examined the effectiveness of Federal Community Treatment Centers (halfway houses). Despite the high relationship between employment and parole success, a decrease in overall recidivism was not found. It is suggested that these programs need to expand their focus from environmental variables to individual variables. Two variables in particular, self-esteem and prisonization, were identified as important for post-release adjustment in this new model. Thus the ideal program would develop a particular skill for socialization, would minimize or reverse prisonization, and would respond to changes in the offenders' self-esteem. 6 notes and 72 references (Author abstract modified)