THIS SITUATION POINTS TO THE NEED FOR GREATER CAPACITY IN MEDIUM TO CLOSE CUSTODY FACILITIES THAN IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE WITHIN THE FLORIDA SYSTEM. THE CHANGES IN INMATE POPULATION ARE THE RESULT OF THE FACT THAT THE RELEASE RATE FOR INMATES WITH LONG SENTENCES DOES NOT EQUAL THE COMMITMENT RATE. DURING THE FIRST 4 YEARS OF THE STUDY, THE RESIDUAL OF INMATES RECEIVING SHORTER SENTENCES WAS 4,817 AND THE RESIDUAL OF THOSE RECEIVING LONGER SENTENCES (OVER 10 YEARS) WAS 3,800, CREATING A NEED FOR INCREASED CAPACITY IN ALL TYPES OF INSTITUTIONS. HOWEVER, DURING FISCAL 1977-78, SHORTER SENTENCE RESIDUALS WERE ONLY 90, WHILE THE LONGER SENTENCE RESIDUALS WERE 741. ALMOST ALL OF THE INCREASE DURING 1977-78 REQUIRED HOUSING IN MEDIUM TO CLOSE CUSTODY INSTITUTIONS. THIS NEED WILL CONTINUE DURING THE NEXT 10 YEARS. TABLES SHOW ADMISSIONS, LOSSES AND NET GAIN/LOSS BY LENGTH OF SENTENCE AND THE JUNE 30 STATUS POPULATION BY TYPE OF PRIMARY OFFENSE. APPENDIXES SHOW TABLES DESCRIBING THE ADMISSIONS, LOSSES, AND NET GAIN/LOSSES FOR 1973-74 THROUGH 1977-78 BY TYPE OF OFFENSE AND LENGTH OF SENTENCE.