1974 AND 1975 END-OF-YEAR PRISON POPULATION FIGURES ARE GIVEN FOR THE STATES, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND THE U.S. BUREAU OF PRISONS. THE HIGH POPULATION MAKES OVERCROWDING AT MOST FACILITIES INEVITABLE, AND THERE ARE OFTEN THREE OR FOUR IN A ONE-MAN CELL. REASONS FOR THE INCREASE ARE PROPOSED -- THEY INCLUDE SOARING CRIME RATES, IMPROVED PROSECUTION, AND TOUGHER ATTITUDES TOWARDS CRIMINALS. MANY STATES ARE RESPONDING TO THE INCREASES WITH BUILDING PROGRAMS ALTHOUGH THEY SUSPECT THAT THE NEW INSTITUTIONS WOULD BE OVERCROWDED AS SOON AS THEY WERE OPENED. ALTERNATIVES ARE SCARCE, HOWEVER, AND CORRECTIONS ADMINISTRATORS HAVE, IN MANY CASES, RESIGNED THEMSELVES TO CONSTRUCTING NEW FACILITIES.