One out of three persons (33.6 percent) of the study population returned to custody within the 5-year followup period. Of the 1,877 returned to custody, two-thirds (66.2 percent, or 1,243) were returned to custody within 2 years of release. The median time between release and return was 17.1 months. Females in the study tended to be returned to custody at a lower rate (11.9 percent) than males (34.3 percent). The lowest rate of return was found among persons committed for murder (7.8 percent) while burglars had the highest rate (45.4 percent). Those who were older at the time of release tended to return at a lower rate than those in younger age brackets; the median age on release was 25.6 years. Persons with more serious prior adult criminal histories returned at a higher rate than those with no prior record. Among ethnic groups, blacks were returned to custody at a rate of 35.6 percent, while Puerto Ricans and whites registered rates of 32.9 percent and 29.7 percent respectively. Study results are presented in both tabular and narrative form. Fourteen tables and three footnotes are given. The New York State parole rules are appended. (Author abstract modified)