P/PREP IS BASED ON THE PREMISE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION BY ITSELF IS UNABLE TO 'REHABILITATE' OFFENDERS AND THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR OF EACH LOCAL COMMUNITY MUST BECOME ACTIVELY INVOLVED TO INSURE THE SUCCESSFUL RETURN OF THE OFFENDER TO THE COMMUNITY. THE OBJECTIVES OF THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION WITH REGARD TO THE P/PREP PROGRAM ARE: THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SOUND RELATIONSHIP WITH PRIVATE SOCIAL SERVICES AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC, WITH A FOCUS ON IMPROVING ATTITUDES TOWARDS EX-OFFENDERS AND CLIENTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM; THE AUGMENTATION OF AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR PRIVATE AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS WHICH CAN PROVIDE SERVICES TO CORRECTIONAL CLIENTELE; AND THE COORDINATION OF PRIVATE COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF CORRECTIONAL CLIENTELE. P/PREP PARTICIPANTS CAN BE DRAWN FROM AMONG INDIVIDUALS RELEASED FROM INCARCERATION ANYWHERE IN THE STATE. THERE ARE NO CLIENT QUALIFICATIONS IMPOSED BY EITHER THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION OR INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTED AGENCIES; NEITHER ARE THERE FORMAL TERMINATION CRITERIA. SINCE ADVOCACY SERVICES ARE THE FOCUS FOR MOST OF THESE PROGRAMS, A CLIENT'S RELATIONSHIP WITH AN AGENCY IS GENERALLY ONGOING, 'TERMINATING' WHEN A CLIENT FAILS TO MAINTAIN CONTACT, MAJOR PROJECT STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES ARE ASSESSED IN RELATION TO EXEMPLARY PROJECT SELECTION CRITERIA. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)