THIS REPORT ASSESSES THE PRESENT STATE OF KNOWLEDGE REGARDING COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS WHICH PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT SERVICES TO PRISON RELEASEES. MORE THAN 250 SUCH PROGRAMS EXIST AND OFFER A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES, INCLUDING COUNSELING, WORK ORIENTATION, TRAINING, JOB DEVELOPMENT, JOB PLACEMENT AND FOLLOW-UP ASSISTANCE AFTER PLACEMENT. THESE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BECAUSE THE ACQUISITION OF EMPLOYMENT IS OFTEN CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL FOR A RELEASEE'S SUCCESSFUL ADJUSTMENT TO A CRIME-FREE LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY. THIS SURVEY FOUND THAT THERE IS A GREAT VARIATION ACROSS PROGRAMS IN THE TYPES OF EMPLOYMENT SERVICES OFFERED AND THE WAYS THESE SERVICES ARE DELIVERED; HOWEVER, LITTLE IS KNOWN ABOUT THE TYPES OF SERVICES WHICH SEEM MOST EFFECTIVE OR ABOUT THE BEST METHOD FOR PROVIDING ANY GIVEN SERVICE. MANY PROGRAMS HAVE ANALYZED WHETHER CLIENTS OBTAIN JOBS, AND MOST HAVE REPORTED THAT THE MAJORITY OF CLIENTS ARE SUCCESSFULLY PLACED. MOST OUTCOME STUDIES ARE QUITE LIMITED IMPACT MEASURES, SUCH AS PLACEMENT AND REARREST RATES, AND DO NOT CONSIDER SUCH FACTORS AS JOB STABILITY, JOB QUALITY OR THE SEVERITY OF CRIMES COMMITTED.(AUTHOR ABSTRACT)....BDS