The proportion of inmates in maximum security facilities decreased over the 11-year period, while the proportion of inmates housed in medium and minimum security facilities increased substantially. In 1987, a larger proportion of female inmates than male inmates were incarcerated in maximum security facilities. In 1998, a larger proportion of male inmates than female inmates were incarcerated in maximum security facilities. While the number of violent felons rose by over 11,000 between 1987 and 1998, the proportion of inmates committed for violent felony offenses decreased from 64 percent to 53 percent. At the same time, the number of drug offenders increased by almost 14,000, raising their proportion of the inmate population from 21 percent to 32 percent. Between 1987 and 1998, the proportion of women in custody who had been committed for violent felony offenses decreased more than for men, while the proportion of women in custody for drug offenses increased more than for men. Also over the same period, the number of inmates sentenced as predicate felons increased more rapidly than the number of inmates sentenced as first felons. Inmates in custody at the end of 1998 were serving longer average minimum sentences (85 months) than inmates in custody at the end of 1987 (74 months). At the end of 1998, the average minimum sentence for female inmates was significantly shorter (51 months) than the average minimum sentence for male inmates (87 months). At the end of 1998, the average maximum sentence for female inmates was significantly shorter (107 months) than the average maximum sentence for male inmates (148 months). Also at the end of 1998, over one-third of the total inmate population had served a prior prison term, compared to less than one-quarter of the inmate population in 1987. Tables and figures