IN 1973 THE STATE LEGISLATURE PASSED THE KANSAS PENAL REFORM ACT, WHICH INCLUDED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE OFFICE OF OMBUDSMAN FOR CORRECTIONS AND ITS GOVERNING BODY, THE CITIZENS' ADVISORY BOARD ON CORRECTIONS, TO WHICH THE OMBUDSMAN SERVES AS EXECUTIVE SECRETARY. A MAJOR GOAL OF THE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM IS TO DEMONSTRATE TO CORRECTIONAL EMPLOYEES AND INMATES THE STATE'S COMMITMENT OF RESPONSIVENESS TO INDIVIDUAL CONCERNS, WHILE PROVIDING PROGRAMS FOR LARGE NUMBERS. THE OFFICE ACCEPTS COMPLAINTS AND GRIEVANCES FROM INMATES, STAFF, AND VOLUNTEERS WITHIN THE KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS. THE POLICY IS TO INVESTIGATE AND ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE COMPLAINTS AT THE LOWEST POSSIBLE ORGANIZATIONAL LEVEL. THIS REPORT DESCRIBES THE WORK OF THE OMBUDSMAN OFFICE AND PROVIDES A SUMMARY OF ITS FINDINGS DURING THE 1977 FISCAL YEAR. A STATISTICAL PRESENTATION COVERS THE FOLLOWING AREAS: THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS HANDLED; THE KINDS OF COMPLAINTS RECEIVED; THE FORM OF COMPLAINTS; THE NUMBER OF UNFOUNDED COMPLAINTS; THE RESULTS OF COMPLAINT HANDLING; THE MANAGEMENT LEVEL WHERE COMPLAINTS WERE RESOLVED; THE AMOUNT OF ACTIVITY INVESTED IN RESOLVING EACH COMPLAINT; THE MEANS BY WHICH COMPLAINANTS CONTACTED THE OMBUDSMAN'S OFFICE; THE WAYS IN WHICH THE OMBUDSMAN FIRST RESPONDED TO COMPLAINANTS; AND THE LENGTH OF TIME TAKEN FOR THE OMBUDSMAN OFFICE TO RESPOND TO A COMPLAINT. STATISTICAL TABLES ARE INCLUDED. (RCB) OF DRUG OFFENDERS ON PAROLE, ONE STUDY FOCUSES ON THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN THE POSTRELEASE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE PAROLEE AND THE OUTCOME OF HIS PAROLE, WHILE ANOTHER EXAMINES THE APPROACH OF HAVING FELLOW INMATES EVALUATE THE PROBABILITY OF A PERSON'S PAROLE SUCCESS. (RCB)