The institutional population (State prison, conservation camp, community-based facility, and Department of Mental Health hospital) increased from 21,088 inmates in 1976 to 145,565 inmates in 1996. White male inmates dropped from 44 percent in 1976 to 29 percent in 1996; most of this shift in racial male composition was due to an increase in the percentage of Hispanic (Mexican) male inmates, which increased from 21 percent to 35 percent. The percentage of felon inmates incarcerated for crimes against persons decreased from 62 percent in 1976 to 44 percent in 1996 for male felons, and from 41 percent to 24 percent for female felons. For drug offenses, the percentage increased from 14 percent to 25 percent for male felons, and 26 percent to 40 percent for female felons. Data are also presented on new admissions by offense category, parole violators returned to prison, admission/return status, felon parole and civil narcotic addict population, releases to parole, average time served on prison sentence, and design bed capacity and population. Regarding the latter, from 1976 to 1996 design bed capacity increased from 24,399 to 73,121, while the institutional population (excluding community correctional centers and State hospitals) increased from 20,161 to 135,294. The percent occupied went from 82.6 to 185.0 in 1996. Extensive tabular and graphic data