THE STUDY FOCUSED ON THE FEASIBILITY OF STARTING COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS AND/OR DEVELOPING NEW PHYSICAL FACILITIES, SUCH AS A PROPOSED MEDIUM-SECURITY PRISON. THE REPORT OPENS WITH A SUMMARY OF PAST LEGISLATIVE STUDIES OF THE KANSAS PENAL SYSTEM AND AN OUTLINE OF CORRECTIONS ACTIVITY IN KANSAS (INCLUDING THE STATE'S 8-YEAR CORRECTIONS MASTER PLAN PUBLISHED IN 1975 AND A PROJECT DEVELOPMENT PLAN ISSUED IN 1977). THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND COMPONENTS OF THE KANSAS CORRECTIONS SYSTEM ARE DESCRIBED. THE STUDY COMMITTEE'S ACTIVITIES (E.G., REVIEWS OF LAWS AND REGULATIONS, INTERVIEWS WITH CORRECTIONAL PERSONNEL IN KANSAS AND OTHER STATES, VISITS TO STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, PUBLIC HEARINGS, ETC.) ARE SUMMARIZED, AS ARE SUGGESTIONS MADE TO THE COMMITTEE BY THE VARIOUS GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS IT CONTACTED. THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT THE PROPOSED NEW MEDIUM-SECURITY PRISON NOT BE CONSTRUCTED, THAT LEGISLATION TO ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS PROGRAMS BE PASSED, THAT PILOT COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS PROJECTS BE UNDERTAKEN, AND THAT AN APPROPRIATION OF $1,635,000 BE APPROVED TO FUND THE PILOT PROJECTS. THE COMMITTEE ALSO MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING THE ALLOCATION OF CORRECTIONS FUNDS TO SELECTED COUNTIES. REASONS FOR THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE CITED. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION INCLUDES COPIES OF CORRECTIONS-RELATED STATE LEGISLATION. (LKM)