FOR THIS DISSERTATION RESEARCH, A RECIDIVIST WAS DEFINED AS AN INMATE WHO, AFTER BEING RELEASED FROM A PENAL INSTITUTION, HAD BEEN REINCARCERATED AT THE UTAH STATE PRISON. A NONRECIDIVIST WAS DEFINED AS AN EXCONVICT WHO HAD BEEN RELEASED FROM A PENAL INSTITUTION AND WHO HAD NO FURTHER RECORD OF INSTITUTIONALIZATION FOR A PERIOD OF TWO OR MORE YEARS FOLLOWING RELEASE. THE STUDY MEASURED, BY A QUANTITATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE AND PERSONAL INTERVIEWS, THE FEELINGS AND BEHAVIOR OF 28 EXPRISONERS WHO HAD MADE SUCCESSFUL ADJUSTMENTS TO SOCIETY. THE RESULTS WERE COMPARED TO MEASURES OF THE FEELINGS AND BEHAVIOR OF 46 RECIDIVISTS AT THE UTAH STATE PRISON. BOTH GROUPS WERE QUESTIONED CONCERNING HOW THEY FELT AND WHAT OCCURRED DURING THE PERIOD OF TIME THEY WERE ON PAROLE. TEN VARIABLES WERE TESTED AND FOUND TO DIFFERENTIATE THE TWO GROUPS SIGNIFICANTLY, WITH THE SUCCESSFUL GROUP SCORING MORE POSITIVELY, THE VARIABLES WERE FROM HIGH TO LOW SIGNIFICANCE: APPROPRIATE ACTION TAKEN IN CRISIS SITUATIONS; FREEDOM FROM DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE; GOOD WORK HABITS; NONCRIMINAL ASSOCIATES; PERSONAL AND FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY; MAINTENANCE OF HOPE; A STABLE HOME WITH SIGNIFICANT OTHERS; FREEDOM FROM HARASSMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS; APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR TOWARD AUTHORITIES; AND A HEALTHY SELF CONCEPT. THE SURVEY INSTRUMENT IS PROVIDED, ALONG WITH TABULAR DATA. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED.