Missions of the DOC are to protect society, carry out court mandates, provide a safe environment for correctional staff and inmates, strengthen the work ethic of inmates, and provide opportunities for inmates to improve mentally and physically. During 1991-1992, funding shortages caused the delay of some programs. Using cash and special revenue funds, fiscal year 1992 expenditures for inmate care, custody, and parole services totaled $78.3 million, $2.6 million lower than originally anticipated. The DOC reviewed its release programs and revised the Arkansas criminal justice system. These measures were in response to an inmate population growth of 10.6 percent between 1991 and 1992. Arkansas had the lowest per inmate cost per day in the United States, $25.60 versus $48.07. Arkansas spent $55,000 per bed to build a maximum-security prison, while the national average was $77,000 per bed. Prison officials attribute the low cost of operating and construction correctional facilities to the fact that inmates work and contribute to the Arkansas prison system's cost-effectiveness. A statistical profile of Arkansas offenders indicates that the inmate custody population as of June 30, 1992, totaled 7,570 and that the average daily population during the year totaled 7,731. Data are provided on average length of sentence and average time served for released offenders released, violent and nonviolent offenses, sentence length for admissions, intakes and releases, and county crime rates. Financial and program data on DOC operations and facilities are also included. Tables and figures