It focused on the treatment of women in such areas as bail, sentencing, and probation and compared treatment received by male inmates in similar situations. In addition the status of women was examined at the Awaiting Trial Unit (ATU) at MCI-Framingham. The Committee also investigated the treatment of male and female juvenile offenders in the juvenile justice system, particularly the way social service agencies and the courts respond to the needs of the children, and differential treatment of the sexes. In addition, programs offered by the Department of Youth Services (DYS) and by Department of Social Services (DDS) were examined regarding availability of particular types of programs and courts' placement of children in these programs.