THE OMBUDSMAN'S OFFICE IS AN INDEPENDENT STATE AGENCY WITH STATUTORY AUTHORITY TO RECEIVE AND INVESTIGATE ALL COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE ADMINISTRATION OF CORRECTIONS PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES, AND TO PUBLISH RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON THE FINDINGS OF ITS INVESTIGATIONS. IN FISCAL 1977, THE OMBUDSMAN OPENED 1,250 CASE FILES AS A RESULT OF CONTACTS MADE WITH THE OFFICE. IMPORTANT POLICY CHANGES THAT OCCURED AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE OMBUDSMAN'S INTERVENTION WERE THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAM AT THE STATE PRISON; REVISIONS IN RULES GOVERNING THE OPERATION OF HOLDING FACILITIES, LOCKUPS, JAILS, AND ADULT CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES; AND DEVELOPMENT OF A UNIFORM POLICY FOR HIRING AND FIRING INMATE WORKERS. IN 70 PERCENT OF THE CASES HANDLED BY THE OMBUDSMAN, THE INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS WAS COMPLETED WITHIN 30 DAYS. THE ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTION OF THE OFFICE ARE DESCRIBED AND ILLUSTRATED IN CHARTS. AN ANALYSIS OF THE OFFICE'S CONTACTS DURING THE YEAR FOCUSES ON INFORMATION MOST OFTEN SOUGHT BY INMATES, POLITICIANS, STUDENTS, AND PRACTITIONERS INTERESTED IN OMBUDSMAN PROGRAMS. TABULAR DATA ARE PRESENTED ON CONTACTS, REQUESTS, AND COMPLAINTS CLOSED; CASELOAD; CONTACT DISTRIBUTION BY INSTITUTION; POPULATION BY INSTITUTION; METHODS OF COMMUNICATION; INITIAL INTERVIEWS; TIME TAKEN TO RESOLVE CONTACTS; CONTACT RESOLUTION BY CATEGORY; REFERRALS; AND CONTACT DISTRIBUTION BY CATEGORY FOR FISCAL 1976 AND 1977. FINANCIAL INFORMATION, A COPY OF THE STATE'S OMBUDSMAN STATUTE, AND A SUMMARY OF OMBUDSMAN POLICY RECOMMENDATION OUTCOMES ARE APPENDED.