The inmate characteristics addressed are base offense at admission, total term at admission, ethnicity, age, county of commitment, and mandatory minimum terms. A total of 51 percent of all inmates were committed for crimes against persons. Forty-four percent were committed with maximum statutory sentences of 10 years or more. Of the total, 5 percent were serving life sentences, and 13 offenders were under capital sentences. Sixty-three percent of inmates were black, 18 percent were white, and 16 percent were Hispanic. Forty-eight percent were under 29 years old. Of the 21 New Jersey counties, seven (Atlantic, Hudson, Essex, Camden, Union, Passaic, and Monmouth) accounted for 72 percent of the total number of inmates. Essex County was the highest contributor with 20 percent. Fifty-four percent of all adult residents in the State system had mandatory minimum sentences. A total of 32 percent of all inmates had been committed for narcotics law violations, including possession, sale, and distribution; over 90 percent of all narcotics law violations were sale/distribution offenses. 26 tables and 5 figures