THE PURPOSES OF THE STUDY WERE: 1) TO DOCUMENT FOR WHAT OFFENSES WOMEN FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE HAD BEEN SENTENCED TO MUNCY IN RECENT YEARS, COMPARED WITH AN EARLIER TIME PERIOD TOGETHER WITH THEIR PREVIOUS HISTORY OF CONTACTS WITH THE LAW; 2) TO DETERMINE WHAT SENTENCES WERE GIVEN TO WOMEN FOR THESE OFFENSES AND HOW MUCH TIME THEY ACTUALLY SERVED ON THEIR SENTENCES; 3) TO GATHER SOCIAL CENSUS INFORMATION ABOUT THESE WOMEN, AS RECORDED AND EVALUATED BY INSTITUTIONAL STAFF. FOR EACH GROUP OF RELEASEES, DATA IS PRESENTED ON THE GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF THE POPULATION, OFFENSE PATTERNS, CRIMINAL HISTORY, SENTENCING AND TIME SERVED ON SENTENCES, AND SOCIAL CENSUS CHARACTERISTICS. THE STUDY SHOWED THAT MORE WOMEN ARE CURRENTLY BEING SENTENCED TO SCI MUNCY THAN IN PAST DECADES. MOST OF THE INCREASED NUMBERS ARE YOUNGER WOMEN. IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT THE PERCENTAGES OF WOMEN SENTENCED FOR NARCOTICS, FORGERY AND ROBBERY HAVE INCREASED; THOSE SENTENCED FOR THEFT AND BURGLARY HAVE DECREASED; AND THOSE SENTENCED FOR HOMICIDE AND ASSAULT HAVE REMAINED ABOUT THE SAME. OTHER FINDINGS ARE REPORTED AS WELL. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)