DURING 1977, DEPARTMENTAL REORGANIZATION WAS INSTITUTED TO IMPROVE ADMINISTRATION AND RESPONSIVENESS TO NEEDS AND PROBLEMS. AN EXECUTIVE TEAM CONCEPT WAS PUT INTO EFFECT. INSTITUTION AND PAROLE FUNCTIONS WERE SEPARATED. THE STATUTORY MANDATE TO REPLACE RETRIBUTIVE PUNISHMENT PROVIDED BY THE YOUTH AUTHORITY ACT OF 1941, CONTINUED TO SERVE AS THE BASIC LEGAL GUIDE FOR THE DEPARTMENT IN 1977. THE YEAR WAS SIGINIFICANT ONE FROM THE STANDPOINT OF LEGISLATION AND CASE LAW IN THAT IT PLACED SPECIFIC LIMITS ON COMMITMENT TIMES FOR CERTAIN OFFENSES. CRITERIA FOR SERIOUS OFFENDER HEARINGS REQUIRED BY THE DETERMINATE SENTENCING ACT OF 1976 WERE ESTABLISHED. THE PAROLE VIOLATION PROCESS AND THE APPEALS PROCEDURES OF THE YOUTH AUTHORITY BOARD WERE REVIEWED. TRENDS ARE EXAMINED IN THE FOLLOWING DEPARTMENT BRANCHES: INSTITUTIONS AND CAMPS; PAROLE SERVICES; PREVENTION AND COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS; MANAGEMENT SERVICES; AND PLANNING, RESEARCH, EVALUATION, AND DEVELOPMENT. PROFILES ARE PRESENTED OF FEMALE AND MALE YOUTHS, FAMILY BACKGROUNDS, DELINQUENT BEHAVIORS, AND EMPLOYMENT AND SCHOOLING SITUATIONS. THE AGE OF THE YOUTHS AT FIRST COMMITMENT, ETHNIC GROUPS, INSTITUTIONAL POPULATIONS, ADMISSIONS, DEPARTURES, AND LENGTH OF STAY IN INSTITUTIONS ARE CONSIDERED. PAROLE POPULATION AND PERFORMANCE ARE ALSO DELINEATED. BESIDES EXTENSIVE TABULAR DATA, THE REPORT INCLUDES GRAPHS; A LIST OF CALIFORNIA YOUTH AUTHORITY INSITUTIONS, CONSERVATION CAMPS, AND PAROLE OFFICES; AND A MAP OF INSTITUTIONS AND CAMPS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA. (DEP)