The early release efforts involved paroling a total of 1,674 inmates an average of 6 months early. The first three efforts occurred under the parole board's general authority to set and reset prison terms and to parole inmates; the later efforts occurred under the authority of State legislation defining categories of offenders that could not be granted early release. If the early release efforts had not occurred, the difference between inmate population and rated inmate capacity would have be 3 percentage points higher, on the average, than it was as a result of the early release efforts. By the end of fiscal year 1984, inmate population was 133 percent of rated capacity, compared to 88 percent 10 years earlier. Early release was found to produce only a temporary reduction in prison overcrowding. Thus, these programs will not solve the long-term problems of prison overcrowding. Although it appears possible to identify low-risk inmates for early release, the pool of eligible inmates is reduced as more inmates are released. Reduced early release efforts or greater risk to the public will be the only future options to policymakers. Figures, data tables, and five references are supplied.