The research also reviewed the literature on the impact of penal policies and practices and the emerging new penology with its emphasis on risk management. The 1,090 offenders included 663 offenders released for the first time on day parole, 163 offenders released on accelerated full parole, 59 offenders released on regular full parole, and 196 offenders released through statutory release. Offenders were followed for a 1-year period. Thirty-seven percent of the offenders were returned to the penitentiary during the follow-up year, and those under age 30 at release were significantly more likely to return than were older offenders. Results indicated that the type rather than the number of release conditions was related to the likelihood of return. Half of all returns occurred for technical violations of conditional release supervision conditions and were driven by a risk management release process. These findings suggested that it is possible to envision the correctional system as a self-propelling force that is able to propagate reincarceration from within itself. Notes and 35 references (Author abstract modified)