THE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1975 AS AN INDEPENDENT OFFICE HAVING INVESTIGATORY POWERS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS. THE PROGRAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR GATHERING AND REPORTING COMPLAINTS. THE OMBUDSMAN MUST BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE STAFF AND INMATES OF ALL STATE INSTITUTIONS. COMPLAINTS ARE FILED UNDER ONE OF SEVERAL CATEGORIES PERTAINING TO THE QUALITY OF THE FACILITY, FOOD, MEDICAL SERVICES, INMATE ACTIVITY GROUPS, PROGRAMS, AND MAIL SERVICES. REPORTS OF PHYSICAL ABUSE, CLAIMED LOSS, AND PROCEDURAL AND POLICY DISCREPANCIES ARE AMONG THE COMPLAINTS CONSIDERED. CATEGORIES FOR DISPOSITION INCLUDE SPECIFIED DEGREES OF RESOLUTION, WITHDRAWAL OF COMPLAINT, NO ACTION, UNFOUNDED COMPLAINT, PRIOR SOLUTION, OR INFORMATION. EXAMPLES OF COMPLAINTS GATHERED DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PROGRAM ARE PRESENTED, AND A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLAINTS IS PROVIDED. DATA ARE CATEGORIZED IN TERMS OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF COMPLAINTS BY COMPLAINANT GROUP, COMPLAINT CATEGORY, DISPOSTION, METHOD OF INITIAL CONTACT BETWEEN OMBUDSMAN AND THE COMPLAINANT, AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME OMBUDSMAN SPENT IN THE VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS. A SIGNIFICANT FINDING WAS THE APPEARANCE OF A POSITIVE CORRELATION BETWEEN CASELOAD DENSITY AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME THE OMBUDSMAN SPENT IN AN INSTITUTION. THIS IMPLIES THAT THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF EXISTING COMPLAINTS EXCEEDS THE NUMBER RECEIVED BY THE OMBUDSMAN. PATTERNS OF COMPLAINT WITHDRAWALS AND RESOLUTIONS IN TWO INSTITUTIONS ARE COMPARED. (DAG)