The numbers released on life license in England and Wales declined to 100 a year in 1982-1983 to about 50 a year in 1986-1987 but increased to nearly 80 in 1989-1990. For life licensees, the 2-year reconviction rate remains relatively stable at 2 percent for a "grave" offense (violent crime), and 10 percent for "standard list" offenses. This is much lower than the rate for all adult male ex-prisoners, some 50 percent. Reconviction rates for life licensees initially convicted of homicide were lower than for other offenses but twice as high for those with previous convictions as for those with no previous convictions. The reconviction rates were higher for restricted offenders from special hospitals and for those with a psychopathic disorder compared to those with mental impairment and mental illness. Within 2 years, one in 10 licensees and restricted offenders were recalled. 11 tables