THE MEN WERE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE TOTAL POPULATION OF RECENTLY RELEASED OFFENDERS. THE SUBJECTS WERE DIVIDED INTO THOSE WITH RELATIVELY STRONG INFORMAL NETWORKS (45.8 PERCENT), THOSE WITH TENOUS OR ALMOST COMPLETELY ABSENT INFORMAL NETWORKS (27.1 PERCENT), AND THOSE IN THE MIDDLE (27.1 PERCENT). INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED JUST BEFORE 1 AND 3 MONTHS AFTER RELEASE. THOSE MEN WHO HAD THE STRONGEST INFORMAL NETWORKS WERE MORE LIKELY TO KNOW ABOUT THE AFTERCARE SERVICE AND TO EITHER PLAN TO USE IT. THOSE WITH WEAK NETWORKS HAD LITTLE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SERVICE OR THE HOUSING AND CASH ASSISTANCE BENEFITS TO WHICH THEY WERE ENTITLED. THESE MEN WERE MOST LIKELY TO BE HOMELESS OR IN SUBSTANDARD HOUSING, TO BE OUT OF WORK, AND TO HAVE POOR ADJUSTMENT TO SOCIETY. THUS, THE AFTERCARE SERVICE SHOULD MAKE MORE OF AN EFFORT TO EDUCATE OFFENDERS BEFORE RELEASE. GREATER USE SHOULD BE MADE OF THE PRERELEASE INTERVIEW TO IDENTIFY THOSE WHO MIGHT NEED EXTRA CARE. THE CASH ALLOWANCE AVAILABLE TO THOSE RELEASED ON SATURDAY SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO THOSE RELEASED ON OTHER DAYS BECAUSE THE EXOFFENDER FINDS IT HARD TO GET MONEY OR A JOB AND THE PROCESSING OF WELFARE PAYMENTS TAKES TIME. THE HOUSING PROGRAM ALSO NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED. A DETAILED DISCUSSION ACCOMPANIES EACH RECOMMENDATION. NUMEROUS CHARTS, TABLES, AND FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED, AND THE STUDY'S METHODOLOGY IS APPENDED.