THE NUMBER OF LIFE-SENTENCE INMATES (LIFERS) RECEIVED INTO PRISONS HAS INCREASED MORE THAN THREEFOLD SINCE THE PASSAGE OF THE HOMICIDE ACT OF 1957. A MARKED INCREASE OCCURRED IN THE USE OF LIFE SENTENCES FOR OFFENSES OTHER THAN HOMICIDE, PARTICULARLY FOR WOUNDING AND RAPE. THE RESULTANT EMPHASIS ON LONG INCARCERATION AND HIGH SECURITY IN PRISONS LED TO THE CONCENTRATION OF THE LARGE MAJORITY OF LIFERS INTO A LIMITED NUMBER OF INSTITUTIONS. IN A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF PRISONERS SENTENCED FOR LIFE, MURDERERS FORMED THREE-QUARTERS OF THE GROUP. THE MEN TENDED TO BE YOUNG, PHYSICALLY FIT, AND SINGLE. TWO-THIRDS OF THE MEN HAD ATTACKED VICTIMS RELATED OR KNOWN TO THEM. A SHARP INSTRUMENT WAS THE MOST FREQUENT MURDER WEAPON. A HIGH PROPORTION HAD A HISTORY OF MENTAL DISORDER, WAS UNEMPLOYED, AND WERE UNSUCCESSFUL EITHER EDUCATIONALLY OR OCCUPATIONALLY. FROM 1957 TO 1977, THE LIFE-SENTENCE PRISON POPULATION OF ENGLAND AND WALES GREW FROM 113 TO 1,220. OVER 40 PERCENT OF THE LIFE-SENTENCE PRISONERS HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED AS DISORDERED MENTALLY AS OF THE DATE OF CONVICTION. REPRIEVES WERE MOST LIKELY TO BE GRANTED TO THOSE WHOSE CRIMES WERE COMMITTED DURING A QUARREL AFTER DRINKING. FOOTNOTES, REFERENCES, TABULAR DATA, AND A PUBLICATIONS LIST ARE INCLUDED IN THE WORK. (LWM)