Walker and McCabe's (1973) national survey of hospital orders made in the 12-month period April 1963 to March 1964 will no doubt be a bench-mark for many years among studies of the treatment of mentally disordered offenders. The study was only a part of a wide-ranging discussion of the Mental Health Act which was not concluded for some years. During this period it was possible to include a follow-up study of the reconvictions in the subsequent two years of those released in the first year, and of those released in the second year for one year subsequently. By the end of the second year after commitment 42 per cent, were still in hospital but 58 per cent, had been released with the explicit consent of the consultant or his implicit consent after absconding, since their recall had not been ordered.