A QUESTIONNAIRE REGARDING THE HIRING OF EX-OFFERNDERS WAS DISTRIBUTED IN APRIL 1972 TO THE DIRECTORS OF THE DEPARTMENTS OF CORRECTIONS IN ALL 50 STATES, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS. ALL AGENCY DIRECTORS RESPONDED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF OKLAHOMA WHICH RETURNED THE QUESTIONNAIRE UNANSWERED. SURVEY FINDINGS INDICATED THAT 44 AGENCIES HAVE DISCONTINUED BLANKET PROHIBITIONS AGAINST HIRING EX-OFFENDERS; 38 HAVE EX-OFFENDERS EMPLOYED WITHIN THEIR SYSTEMS; AND EX-OFFENDERS ARE EMPLOYED AT ALL POSITION AND SALARY LEVELS, WITH PERFORMANCES EQUAL TO OR SUPERIOR TO THEIR NON-OFFENDER COUNTERPARTS. HOWEVER, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE FACT THAT LESS THAN 300 EX-OFFENDERS WERE CURRENTLY EMPLOYED WITHIN CORRECTIONAL AGENCIES REFLECTED A FORM OF DE FACTO DISCRIMINATION ON THE PART OF THE AGENCIES THEMSELVES. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED.