Jeff,
Outlets are retained by default. If you have retain properties for outlets then they are retained and must be released. If you don't have any properties for outlets then they are retained and must be released. If you have assign properties for outlets then they are not retained.
There is a secondary issue related to memory warnings that makes this all more complicated. In short outlets should be released when a memory warning is received, but this is somewhat complicated due to deficiencies in the UIViewController implementation.
See this thread:
Cocoabuilder - Outlets / IBOutlet declarations (was Re: Interface Builder & Wiring Objects)
