OVERALL FIGURES FOR STATE OF VIRGINIA PRISONS SHOW A RATED CAPACITY OF 5,640 INMATES AND A POPULATION AS OF DECEMBER 1, 1975, OF 6,231. FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS THE POPULATION HAS REMAINED LEVEL. HOWEVER, ANALYSIS OF LOCAL JAIL REPORTS FINDS THAT THE BACKLOG OF CONVICTED OFFENDERS IS BEING MAINTAINED IN THE LOCAL JAILS FOR LACK OF IMMEDIATE ALTERNATIVES. JUNE 30,1974, AND JUNE 30, 1975, WERE THE DATES CHOSEN FOR STUDY. OVER THIS TIME PERIOD CONVICTED FELONS BEING HELD FOR STATE INSTITUTIONS INCREASED 68 PERCENT. NO FELONS WERE FOUND AWAITING TRANSFER TO FEDERAL PRISONS. MISDEMEANANTS WAITING FOR TRANSFER TO STATE INSTITUTIONS INCREASED 0.2 PERCENT WHILE MISDEMEANANTS WHO WOULD ORDINARILY SERVE SENTENCES LOCALLY DROPPED 96 PERCENT. LOCAL ORDINANCE VIOLATORS INCREASED 7 PERCENT. THE NUMBER OF FELONS AWAITING TRIAL ON STATE CHARGES INCREASED 15 PERCENT, THE NUMBER ON FEDERAL CHARGES DECREASED 50 PERCENT. THE NUMBER OF MISDEMEANANTS AWAITING TRIAL ON STATE CHARGES DECREASED 53 PERCENT. THOSE AWAITING TRIAL FOR LOCAL ORDINANCE VIOLATIONS DECREASED 69 PERCENT. TOTAL AWAITING TRIAL DECREASED 11 PERCENT, TOTAL TRIED INCREASED 22 PERCENT. OVERALL JAIL POPULATION INCREASED 2 PERCENT. ALTHOUGH 2 YEARS ARE NOT ENOUGH TO ESTABLISH A TREND, THE FACT THAT AN INCREASING NUMBER OF CONVICTED FELONS ARE BEING HELD IN LOCAL JAILS RAISES SEVERAL POLICY QUESTIONS. ARE LOCAL JAILS EQUIPPED WITH PERSONNEL NECESSARY TO HANDLE LARGE NUMBERS OF FELONS? SHOULD PROGRAMS BE PROVIDED FOR THIS POPULATION? WHAT IS THE FEASABILITY OF ESTABLISHING THE JAILS AS COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS CENTERS? WHAT WOULD BE PUBLIC RESPONSE TO MAINTAINING FELONS IN SUCH LOCAL CENTERS? SUCH QUESTIONS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IN VIEW OF THE APPARENT TRENDS IN PRISON POPULATIONS. TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (GLR)