The summary tables in Part A show the basic characteristics of prisoners, as well as their offenses and sentences. They permit comparisons by sex and jurisdiction. Where appropriate, tables of percentages, rates per 100,000 relevant population, and graphic representations have been included. Part B presents cross-tabulations by most serious offense. Aggregated figures for all jurisdictions are used to produce tables that show the relevant characteristics of offenders and sentences, enabling comparisons between the various offense types. Part C contains data on the legal status of the offender, the sentence for the most serious offense, the aggregate sentence, and the expected duration of imprisonment, classified by most serious offense for each jurisdiction. These tables should facilitate interjurisdictional comparison of overall sentencing practices for the various offense types and will be useful in evaluating differences in legislation and parole rules. Part D provides a summary of trends in key characteristics of prison populations for 1982-91. These tables describe changes in the sizes and composition of the prison populations during the decade. 37 tables and the data-collection form