The Patuxent Institution represents one of the most highly concentrated treatment efforts toward criminal offenders that has been mounted in the United States. Beginning in 1955 and ending in 1977, Patuxent operated under an indeterminate sentencing statute which authorized the confinement of a special class of offenders, 'defective delinquents', 'for an indefinite period of time under extensive psychiatric and psychological therapy. Patulxent met its demise in 1977 under a barrage of ideological and political criticism. This study examines only the recidivism effects of the Patuxent program compared with recidivism in a sample of Maryland Penitentiary releasees. Using an ex post factor quasi-experimental design, releasees from the Pautxent Istitution during 1973 (n=98) were matched with releasees from the State prison, a maximum security facility. Controlling for race of inmate, no significant difference in recidivism was found between the two samples. Further, an analysis of the severity of recidivism offenses showed no difference between the samples. In addition to evaluating the comparative effects of the different correctional programs on recidivism, the study also examined the phenomenon of recidivism itself by measuring the severity of postrelease criminality and assessing its relationship with several variables relevant to an inmate's past social and criminal history, as well as postrelease employment prospects and living arrangements. Study instruments and data are appended, and a bibliography of about 150 references is provided. (Author abstract modified)