THE STATISTICS COVER THE FIRST YEAR UNDER THE STATE'S YOUTHFUL OFFENDER PROGRAM FOR PERSONS WHO ARE UNDER AGE 21 WHEN THEY COMMIT A FELONY FOR WHICH THEY ARE FOUND GUILTY AND FOR WHICH THE PENALTY IS LESS THAN LIFE IMPRISONMENT. A COMMITMENT AS A YOUTHFUL OFFENDER IS NOT A CONVICTION OF A FELONY AND DOES NOT RESTRICT FUTURE LIBERTIES (VOTING, HOLDING PUBLIC OFFICE, SECURING OCCUPATIONAL LICENSES, ETC.). DATA ON DISPOSITION (JUVENILE, YOUTHFUL OFFENDER, OR ADULT INSTITUTION), NATURE OF OFFENSE, LENGTH OF SENTENCE, AND RACE ARE PRESENTED FOR TWO AGE GROUPS: 16-17; AND 18 THROUGH 20. ALSO INCLUDED ARE COMPARATIVE DATA (RACE, PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS AND PENAL EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION, ACHIEVEMENT TEST SCORES, MARITAL STATUS, NATURE OF OFFENSE, LENGTH OF SENTENCE, AND PLEA/MULTIPLE SENTENCE INFORMATION) FOR 79 ADMISSIONS TO YOUTHFUL OFFENDER INSTITUTIONS DURING FISCAL 1977 (AGES 16-20), FOR THE 201 YOUNG (16-20) MALES FIRST-ADMITTED TO ADULT INSTITUTIONS DURING THE YEAR (EXCLUDING ADULT PROBATION VIOLATORS), AND FOR A COMPARABLE ADULT ADMISSION GROUP OF 539 MALES OVER AGE 20. A COUNTY-BY-COUNTY BREAKDOWN OF DISPOSITIONS FOR YOUTHFUL OFFENDER, JUVENILE, AND ADULT MALE FIRST-ADMISSIONS IS PROVIDED. A NARRATIVE SUMMARY (BUT NO INTERPRETATION) ACCOMPANIES 13 TABLES. (LKM)