The Conference was attended by officials responsible for the prison administrations of member States and several non-member States at the highest level (directors general or their deputies). According to standing practice, the Conference attempted to respond to the practical concerns of officials directly responsible for the management of prison systems. The Conference examined a vast array of issues, such as measures taken or envisaged by member States with a view to combating the overcrowding of penal institutions and the growing prison population, long sentences, and violent offenders; keeping prisoners active in an increasingly difficult economic environment; the preparation of prisoners for release; and the treatment of sex offenders in penal institutions and release programs. The Conference paid special attention to best practice as regards East-West cooperation in the area of prison reform. The volume contains the reports presented at the Conference and its main conclusions and recommendations. For individual papers see NCJ-188222-31. Notes, figures, table, references, bibliographies