The law has been extended beyond its original termination date and is scheduled to terminate on January 1, 1986. The analysis used data from the Uniform Crime Reports and the National Crime Survey and compared California data with data from other States. Residential burglaries declined significantly in California in 1980. However, the law did not appear to be responsible for the decline, because declines occurred in other States that had not enacted stiffer penalties for burglaries. Other factors, such as changes in demographic and economic conditions, undoubtedly also influence burglary rates. The new law in California has resulted in more convicted burglars receiving prison sentences, however. By putting more burglars in prison, the law has undoubtedly had some impact on burglary rates. Footnotes, figures, and tables. (Author summary modified)