THE MINNESOTA OMBUDSMAN OFFICE IS AN INDEPENDENT STATE AGENCY WITH STATUTORY AUTHORITY TO RECEIVE COMPLAINTS FROM ANY SOURCE CONCERNING THE ACTION OF ANY COMPONENT OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, CORRECTIONS BOARD, AND BOARD OF PARDONS. THE OFFICE INVESTIGATES COMPLAINTS AND PUBLISHES ITS RECOMMENDATIONS. IN 1976, A BILL WAS PASSED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE STRENGTHENING AND EXPANDING THE OMBUDSMAN'S AUTHORITY BY BROADENING THE OFFICE'S JURISDICTION TO INCLUDE REGIONAL CORRECTIONS AND DETENTION FACILITIES AND COUNTY PROGRAMS OPERATING UNDER THE COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS ACT. THE BILL ALSO GRANTED THE OMBUDSMAN SUBPOENA POWER. DURING FISCAL YEAR 1976, THE OMBUDSMAN CLOSED 1,130 OF THE 1,171 CASES OPENED. A SATISFACTORY RESOLUTION WAS BROUGHT ABOUT IN 65 PERCENT OF THE CASES. POLICY CHANGES THAT OCCURRED AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE OMBUDSMAN'S INTERVENTION INCLUDED. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRISON'S SEGREGATION UNIT, FORMULATION OF A POLICY GOVERNING THE LOCKUP OF JUVENILES, AND FORMULATION OF POLICIES GOVERNING THE THEFT, DAMAGE, LOSS, OR TRANSFER OF INMATES' PROPERTY. THE ANNUAL REPORT OFFERS AN OVERVIEW OF THE OMBUDSMAN OPERATION PLUS AN ANALYSIS OF OFFICE'S COMPLAINT CASELOAD AND OTHER ACTIVITIES DURING THE REPORT PERIOD. EXAMPLES OF COMPLAINTS, SUPPORTING DATA, AND A SUMMARY OF THE OFFICE'S POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FISCAL 1976 ARE INCLUDED.