TO GATHER DATA FOR THE EVALUATION OF OPTIONS, RESEARCHERS SENT QUESTIONNAIRES TO BOTH CLASSIFICATION OFFICES IN THE FEDERAL PRISON SYSTEM AND TO EACH FEMALE OFFENDER AT EITHER THE PRISON FOR WOMEN OR A PROVINCIAL INSTITUTION. THE STUDY FOUND THAT THE NUMBER OF FEMALE OFFENDERS CAN BE EXPECTED TO GROW BY ABOUT 3 TO 5 PERCENT DURING THE PERIOD 1978 TO 1985. EXPANDED EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE NEEDED. IN ADDITION, 49 PERCENT OF THE WOMEN NEED DRUG TREATMENT WHILE 35 PERCENT NEED TREATMENT FOR ALCOHOLISM. OF THE 137 WOMEN CURRENTLY IN THE PRISON FOR WOMEN, ONLY THREE NEED MAXIMUM SECURITY MEASURES, WHILE 106 NEED MEDIUM SECURITY. TWO OPTIONS WERE SCREENED OUT: PLACING ALL FEMALE INMATES IN PROVINCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND PLACING ALL IN COMMUNITY-BASED FACILITIES. MANY PROVINCES DID NOT WISH TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR LONG-TERM FEMALE INMATES AND SCATTERING THEM AMONG INSTITUTIONS WOULD MAKE PROGRAM PLANNING DIFFICULT. COMMUNITY FACILITIES COULD NOT MEET SECURITY REQUIREMENTS. FIVE OPTIONS ARE EVALUATED: BUY VANIER INSTITUTION FROM THE ONTARIO GOVERNMENT AND CONVERT MISSION INSTITUTION INTO A COEDUCATIONAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE WESTERN REGION; REBUILD THE PRISON FOR WOMEN AND USE MISSION INSTITUTION; USE EITHER VANIER OR THE REBUILT PRISON FOR WOMEN ALONE; AND BUILD A NEW INSTITUTION IN THE KINGSTON AREA. THE NEW INSTITUTION IS NOT FAVORED. THE REPORT CONTAINS CHARTS AND APPENDIXES. (GLR)