THIS VOLUME PRESENTS A COMPREHENSIVE ACCOUNT OF THE WORK OF BRITISH PENAL INSTITUTIONS; IT ATTEMPTS TO RESPOND TO A SITUATION IN WHICH WIDESPREAD PUBLIC ANXIETY ABOUT CRIME AND DELINQUENCY IS MATCHED BY INCREASING CONCERN ABOUT THE MEASURES NEEDED TO CARE FOR AND CONTROL THOSE COMMITTED INTO CUSTODY BY THE COURTS. THE INFORMATION IS PROVIDED TO: (1) ENABLE THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO INCREASE ITS KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE AIMS, TASKS, AND PROBLEMS OF THIS COMPLEX SERVICE, AND (2) PROVIDE A SOURCE OF READY REFERENCE FOR ALL THOSE WHO ARE CONCERNED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE OR THE TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS. FIRST, THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF THE CORRECTIONS TASK ARE EXAMINED, WITH ATTENTION TO THE ROLE OF THE PRISON SERVICE AND THE BOUNDS OF THE CORRECTIONS MISSION. NEXT, THE OPERATIONAL WORK OF THE PRISON SERVICE IS DISCUSSED, INCLUDING: CLASSIFICATION; TREATMENT AND TRAINING; DISCIPLINE, CONTROL, AND COMPLAINTS; EMPLOYMENT AND EARNINGS; AND THE OFFENDER'S RETURN TO THE COMMUNITY. YOUNG OFFENDERS (THOSE UNDER THE AGE OF 21) AND THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL CLASSES OF PRISONERS ARE EXAMINED: UNCONVICTED, CONVICTED BUT UNSENTENCED, AND CIVIL PRISONERS; WOMEN AND GIRLS; AND LIFE SENTENCE PRISONERS. ASPECTS OF CORRECTIONS MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION ARE NOTED, WITH ATTENTION TO BUILDING AND SECURITY; ORGANIZATION, STAFFING, AND TRAINING; AND ASSESSMENT AND RESEARCH. APPENDED MATERIALS INCLUDE: A LIST OF PRISON DEPARTMENT ESTABLISHMENTS IN USE AS OF JANUARY 1, 1976; GRAPHIC AND TABULAR DATA ON INCREASES IN INDICTABLE OFFENSES AND CONVICTIONS; DATA REGARDING TRENDS IN COMMITTALS, DAILY AVERAGE POPULATION, AND LENGTHS OF SENTENCES; GRAPHIC AND TABULAR DATA REGARDING PERSONS IN CUSTODY, INCLUDING YOUNG OFFENDERS AND THOSE NOT UNDER SENTENCE; PAROLE STATISTICS; AN ORGANIZATIONAL CHART OF THE PRISON DEPARTMENT; STAFF AS OF JANUARY 1, 1976; A SELECTION OF EXISTING PRISON RESEARCH PROJECTS; AND AN ACCUNTING OF PRISONER-CITIZEN RELATIONSHIP (E.G., VISITING, PUBLIC SERVICE EFFORTS). AN INDEX AND GLOSSARY ARE PROVIDED. FOR INDIVIDUAL CHAPTER ON THE OFFENDER'S RETURN TO THE COMMUMITY, SEE NCJ-48399. (KBL)