IN 1976, COMPARED TO 1975, THERE WAS AN OVERALL DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF WARDS UNDER COMMITMENT TO STATE YOUTH AUTHORITY FACILITIES. THIS DECREASE FIGURED OUT TO A 12.7 PERCENT DECLINE IN THE INSTITUTION POPULATION, AND A 3.8 PERCENT DECREASE IN THE PAROLE CASELOAD. FIRST COMMITMENTS TO YOUTH ATHORITY, HOWEVER, INCREASED 4.6 PERCENT. IN CONTRAST TO THE FIRST COMMITMENTS INCREASE WAS A DECREASE IN PAROLE VIOLATOR RETURNS. THE LENGTH OF STAY IN INSTITUTIONS IN 1967 DECREASED TO 12 MONTHS, APPROXIMATELY ONE-HALF LESS THAN THE LENGTH OF STAY IN 1975. LENGTH OF STAY ON PAROLE DECREASED BY APPROXIMATELY THREE AND ONE HALF MONTHS. THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY FOR PAROLE VIOLATORS WAS 18 MONTHS AND FOR NON-PAROLE VIOLATORS IT WAS 24 MONTHS....BS