The postrelease followup indicates that 48 percent returned within the study period, including 25.4 percent committed by the courts for new felony offenses and 22.6 percent returned for violation of parole. An analysis of selected characteristics include type of release, commitment offense, sex, age, ethnic group, time to return, drug offenders, time served in prison, returns of second felony offenders, region of commitment, minimum sentence, and maximum sentence. People released on parole tended to have a lower rate of return than did conditional releasees. Of the 4,944 returned, the largest portion were returned within 24 months. Women had a much lower rate of return (31 percent) than did males at 48.8 percent. Offenses with higher than average rates of return were robbery (all degrees), burglary (all degrees), stolen property, and youthful offenders. Among offenses with return rates below the average were murder, homicide, assault, sex crimes, arson, forgery, drugs, and other felonies. 19 tables and 15 charts