Of the 19,299 inmates, 13,355 (69 percent) were actually issued a certificate; 3,888 (20 percent) were denied certificates, and 2,056 (11 percent) were granted noncertifiable status. Inmates who received a certificate were substantially more likely to be granted parole than those denied a certificate or those granted noncertifiable status. During 1991, 84 percent of inmates who received a certificate were granted parole, compared to 38 percent of those denied a certificate and 63 percent of those in noncertifiable status. The number of initial releases substantially exceeded the projected number, and the additional releases represented a significant savings in terms of operating and construction costs. A followup study found that the return rate of released individuals who received a certificate was significantly lower than the return rate of a preprogram comparison group. 8 tables