Interviews were conducted with 212 inmates (106 recidivists and 106 first offenders). The interviews covered information on age, education, nature of offenses, number of previous convictions, marital status, family relationships, duration between release from prison and present conviction, and extent of association with persons having criminal values. Information was also obtained on job experience, the process by which the current offense was committed, postrelease support received after previous release, problems of social interaction, attitude toward present conviction, and length of the present sentence. Data from the inmates were supplemented by unstructured interviews with prison officials and with observations during the 3 weeks of the prison study. Recidivists tended to have first convictions early in life, usually before age 25. Recidivists also generally had little postrelease support from significant others. Economic offenses accounted in large measure for the reincarceration of offenders. Although the recidivists tended to be slightly older than the first offenders, the former tended to be unmarried and have weaker family relationships. Tabular data and 15 references are provided.