A TOTAL OF 2,967 NEW FELONS WERE COMMITTED TO THE VIRGINIA STATE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1978, A DECREASE OF 12.3 PERCENT OVER FISCAL YEAR 1977. THIS IS THE FIRST DECREASE SINCE 1974. ALMOST HALF WERE 23 YEARS OF AGE OR YOUNGER WITH 21 THE MOST FREQUENTLY REPORTED AGE; 53.9 PERCENT WERE NONWHITE AND 46.1 PERCENT WERE WHITE; ONLY 4.6 PERCENT WERE FEMALE. NORFOLK, WITH 5.6 PERCENT OF TOTAL STATE POPULATION COMMITTED 9.9 PERCENT OF THE NEW FELONS WHILE RICHMOND, WITH 4.4 PERCENT, COMMITTED 11.2 PERCENT. FAIRFAX HAS THE LARGEST POPULATION IN THE STATE BUT ONLY 5.5 PERCENT OF TOTAL COMMITTMENTS. OFFENSE DATA SHOW A A SLIGHT DECREASE IN DRUG LAW COMMITMENTS (10.2 PERCENT COMPARED TO 10.5 PERCENT FOR 1977). OFFENSES AGAINST PERSONS ACCOUNTED FOR 36.5 PERCENT OF THE FELONIES, AGAINST PROPERTY 46.2 PERCENT. OF THE 1,027 MISDEMEANANTS, 59 PERCENT WERE SENTENCED FOR OFFENSES AGAINST PROPERTY, 14.2 PERCENT FOR OFFENSES AGAINST PERSONS, AND 12.1 PERCENT FOR OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC POLICY, ECONOMY AND HEALTH (WHICH INCLUDES DRUG LAWS). THE MOST FREQUENT OFFENSE WAS PETTY LARCENY FOLLOWED BY NARCOTIC LAW VIOLATIONS. OF THE 2,967 NEW COMMITMENTS, 18 PERCENT HAD SERVED ONE OR MORE PREVIOUS FELON SENTENCES IN THE VIRGINIA CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM WHILE A TOTAL OF 24.9 PERCENT HAD SERVED TIME PREVIOUSLY EITHER IN VIRGINIA OR ANOTHER STATE. EXTENSIVE STATISTICAL DATA AND AN APPENDIX ARE PROVIDED. --(GLR)