THE STUDY SAMPLE REPRESENTS APPROXIMATELY ONE-HALF OF THE NONSUPPORT OFFENDERS WHO HAD EXPERIENCED THE ENTIRE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS UPON THEIR RELEASE FROM PRISON DURING 1970. DATA ON THE SUBJECTS' EXPERIENCES, DRAWN FROM SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCY, DOMESTIC RELATIONS DIVISION, PROBATION DEPARTMENT, AND CORRECTION DIVISION RECORDS, WERE ANALYZED FOR THREE STAGES: THE FIRST OFFENSE, EXPOSURE TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND FOLLOWUP. THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN THE BEHAVIOR AND SITUATION OF THE OFFENDERS AFTER EXPOSURE TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. IN FACT, EXPOSURE TO THE SYSTEM HAD A SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE EFFECT ON RECORD OF SUPPORT PAYMENTS AND RETURN TO THE FAMILY THAT HAD BEEN DESERTED. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT FORCING DESERTING FATHERS IN BALTIMORE TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES DOESN'T INCREASE THE AMOUNT OR REGULARITY OF SUPPORT PAYMENTS. UNEMPLOYMENT WAS HIGHER AMONG THE MEN STUDIED THAN AMONG ALL MARYLAND CITIZENS. THE MAJORITY OF THE SUBJECTS DID NOT EARN A LIVING WAGE EVEN WORKING REGULARLY AND WERE BARELY ABLE TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES LET ALONE A FAMILY. IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT MANY WORK HOURS WERE LOST BY THE SUBJECTS AS A RESULT OF ACCIDENTS, ILLNESS, ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE, AND COMMISSION OF OTHER CRIMES. IT IS FURTHER NOTED THAT THE COST OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FOR FAMILIES OF 41 SUBJECTS WAS AN ADDED DRAIN ON CITY AND STATE RESOURCES. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING THE HANDLING OF NONSUPPORT CASES THROUGH BETTER COORDINATION OF SERVICES AND EARLIER INTERVENTION ARE OFFERED. DETAILS OF THE DOMESTIC RELATIONS CASE PROCESSING IN BALTIMORE, SUPPORTING DATA, STUDY INSTRUMENTS, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)