THIS THIRD IN A SERIES OF ANNUAL REORTS SHOWS THAT RECIDIVISM REMAINS A MAJOR INTEREST IN 1978. ABSTRACTS INDICATE OVERALL RECIDIVISM RATES FOR ALL STATE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS FOR THE YEARS 1975 AND 1976, AS WELL AS THE RECIDIVISM RATES OF RESIDENTS RELEASED FROM THE BRIDGEWATER FACILITY DURING THE PERIOD 1971-1975. THE NEXT TWO SECTIONS OF THE REPORT REFLECT A STAFF REORGANIZATION IN THE RESEARCH UNIT DURING 1978 DESIGNED TO CONCENTRATE ON PROGRAM EVALUATION AND OPERATONAL RESEARCH. THE PROGRAM EVALUATION COMPONENT DEALS WITH ANALYSES OF PROGRAMS GEARED TOWARD REINTEGRATING INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH SUCH PROGRAMS AS PRERELEASE OR WORK RELEASE. ABSTRACTS INCLUDE AN ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTS OF WORK RELEASE AT THE CONCORD FACILITY, A COMPARISON OF COMPLETION OR NONCOMPLETION RATES FOR RELEASEES FROM PRERELEASE FACILITIES, AND AN ASSESSMENT OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RECIDIVISM RATES AND THE GRADUATED SOCIETAL REINTEGRATION EXPERIENCE. OPERATIONAL RESEARCH STUDIES DIFFER FROM PROGRAM EVALUATIONS IN THAT THEY PROVIDE STATISTICAL DESCRIPTIONS OR TREND ANALYSES OF PROGRAMS OR SPECIFIC POPULATIONS, BUT DO NOT NECESSARILY EVALUATE THEM IN TERMS OF RECIDIVISM OR PROGRAM COMPLETION. STUDIES REPRESENTED INCLUDE A TREND ANALYSIS OF COMMITMENT PATTERNS TO HOUSES OF CORRECTION, A TREND ANALYSIS OF YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS COMMITTED TO INSTITUTIONS, A STATISTICAL REPORT OF THE FURLOUGH PROGRAM, AND AN EXPLANATION OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF A VALIDATED BASE EXPECTANCY TABLE. A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVEN ANNUAL STATISTICAL REPORTS IS ALSO INCLUDED. ABSTRACTS OF SPECIAL REPORTS DEAL WITH A STUDY OF THE RECEPTION AND DIAGNOSTIC PROCESS OF THE DEPARTMENT, AN OVERVIEW OF MANDATORY SENTENCING IN TERMS OF BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND IMPORTANT ISSUES, AND AN EVALUATION OF THE NEW LINE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (AN INITIAL INTAKE FOR COURT COMMITMENTS TO THE CONCORD INSTITUTION). (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--RCB)