The Michigan Comprehensive Offender Manpower Program operated several projects attacking ex-offender employment problems. The projects included a preparole halfway house, a group home, prevocational and work skill training, and assignment of youth offenders to the Job Corps. The postrelease employment histories of 164 exoffenders who participated in the program were compared with those of 194 nonparticipants. Demographic characteristics were also compared. Data were gathered during the course of interviews with all subjects. The total hours and days worked and the employment histories of participants were lower than those of nonparticipants. Participants who were released from a prerelease center, those who were male, and those who had no dependents were more successful than other participants. Subjects who were black were less successful. The sole positive impact of prerelease participation resulted from a deliberate 'creaming' practice which channeled residents with the highest probability of success into the halfway house and required that they obtain jobs before being released on parole. It is concluded that that if labor market problems of ex-offenders are to be alleviated, solutions other than the currently offered job-placement services must be found.