Base line data were collected during the spring and summer of 1988 from records at the Springfield Correctional Facility, which houses all female inmates and some male inmates of the South Dakota State Penitentiary. The study population consisted of all women incarcerated from January 1, 1980, to July 1, 1988 (307 inmates). Punishment severity was defined as "the percentage of maximum penalty sentenced, minus years suspended." Inmate data covered conviction, offense, age, race, defense type, prior felonies, juvenile record, and employment status. On its face, the study suggests that judges do not discriminate based on race in sentencing female offenders, but the study does not focus on whether such discrimination may occur in individual cases and in decisionmaking other than sentencing. Regarding sexual discrimination in sentencing, the data indicate that women are likely to receive a less severe sentence than men for the same offense. 5 tables, 113 footnotes.