The study evaluates the 1980-1983 Illinois Early Release program. A total of 21,000 inmates were released by selectively awarding inmates with satisfactory conduct additional good-time credits were deducted from their determinate sentence. A detailed inmate arrest history file was created, making it possible to estimate precisely the number of arrests from the early release program. The study found that prisoners who were released early did not have a higher probability of being rearrested or returned to prison. Prisoners selected from early release had a 42% lower one-year rearrest rate compared to prisoners serving their full prison terms at 49%. The study also mentions the extent of early release increasing the Illinois crime problem, however, the authors estimated that less than 1% of the 1980 through 1982 arrest contributed from the 1980 to 1983 early release. During the time of study, James Austin was the director of the Research of the National Council on Crime and Delinquency (NCCD), currently is the president of JFA Institute.

NCCD promotes just and equitable social systems for individuals, families, and communities through research, public policy, and practice.

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^{Keywords: Illinois Department of Corrections, report, quantitative, Early Release, Sage Publication, Austin, 1986, Positive} 

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