FOR TWO AND ONE-HALF YEARS THE POST SENTENCING STUDY REVIEWED THE CASE RECORDS OF APPROXIMATELY 1800 OFFENDERS WHO PASSED THROUGH THE SAN MATEO (CALIFORNIA) CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE PRINCIPAL FINDINGS WERE THAT FOR EACH OF THE OFFENSE GROUPS, THE PARTICULAR SENTENCE IMPOSED BY THE COURT HAD NO STATISTICALLY RELEVANT IMPACT ON RECIDIVISM. ALSO, WITHIN EACH OF THE OFFENSE GROUPS, WHETHER THERE WAS COMMITMENT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, JAIL, OR PROBATION, THE LENGTH OF THE COMMITMENT HAD NO STATISTICALLY RELEVANT IMPACT ON RECIDIVISM. FACTORS WHICH DID PROVE TO HAVE A STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT IMPORT ON RECIDIVISM WERE THE OFFENDER'S EMPLOYMENT STATUS, OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS, EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND PRIOR CRIMINAL INVOLVEMENT. CHARTS, STATISTICS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND A DESCRIPTION OF THE METHODOLOGY EMPLOYED ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)...MSP