A BRIEF HISTORY OF CORRECTIONS IS PRESENTED, AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF PRISONS IN VERMONT, THEIR GOALS, WORKING PRINCIPLES, AND OPERATING ASSUMPTIONS ARE OUTLINED. THE ACTUAL STRUCTURE OF THE VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND ITS VARIOUS SERVICES AND FACILITIES ARE DESCRIBED. A PROFILE OF THE STATE'S PRISON POPULATION IS PRESENTED, INCLUDING DEMOGRAPHIC DATA, TYPES OF OFFENSES, PROBATIONERS, DEGREE OF CROWDING IN EACH FACILITY, LOCATION OF POPULATION MEMBERS RELATIVE TO THEIR HOME REGIONS, TRENDS IN CRIME RATES, NUMBERS OF FURLOUGHS GRANTED, AND PROBATION AND PAROLE. LONG-TERM AND SHORT-TERM POPULATION PROJECTIONS ARE MADE. PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED BY THE SYSTEM ARE SUMMARIZED, INCLUDING WORK, TREATMENT, AND FURLOUGHS, AND THE IMPLICATIONS OF THESE PROGRAMS FOR THE COMMUNITY ARE CONSIDERED. MEASURES TAKEN TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC ARE OUTLINED, AND ESCAPES, FURLOUGH INCIDENTS, AND MAXIMUM SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS ARE DESCRIBED. RECIDIVISM RATES AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS ARE EXAMINED. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE FOR IMPROVING THE SYSTEM WITH AN EMPHASIS ON COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. A TABLE OUTLINING PROPOSED ACTIONS TO ALLEVIATE OVERCROWDING THROUGH 1980 IS PRESENTED. MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE SUMMARIZED INCLUDING: DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONAL COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL CENTERS; IMPROVEMENT OF EMPLOYEE TRAINING AND CAREER GOALS; AND EXPLORATION OF ALTERNATIVES TO REDUCE OVERCROWDING. AN INDEX IS PROVIDED. (VDA)