IMPROVEMENTS ARE IMPERATIVE BECAUSE THIS STATE HAS THE HIGHEST COMMITMENT RATE IN THE COUNTRY AND THE FIFTH HIGHEST TOTAL PRISON POPULATION. OVER 1,300 INMATES ARE CONFINED IN CENTRAL PRISON, WHICH WAS ONLY DESIGNED FOR 850 INMATES. A LAWSUIT RECENTLY FILED BY INMATES AGAINST DOC COULD RESULT IN A COURT ORDER TO CLOSE THE PRISON SYSTEM. TO ALLEVIATE OVERCROWDING, THE STATE HAS APPROPRIATED FUNDS FOR BUILDING MODULA PRISON UNITS TO HOUSE MINIMUM SECURITY INMATES. A MAJOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECT TO RENOVATE CENTRAL PRISON IS PLANNED FOR COMPLETION IN 1982. PROGRAMS WHICH PROVIDE RESTITUTION AND LOCAL CONFINEMENT FOR SHORT-TERM PRISONERS SHOULD DIVERT OFFENDERS FROM STATE PRISONS. TO ENHANCE SECURITY, A CENTRAL INMATE TRANSFER AND CLASSIFICATION UNIT PROGRAMS AND MONITORS THE ASSAULTIVE CRIMINALS, WITH TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION AS THE GOALS OF THE SYSTEM. MEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES ARE BEING IMPROVED, WITH SERVICES INCLUDING THE TREATMENT OF DRUG ABUSE AND ALCOHOLISM, ALONG WITH A GERIATRICS PROGRAM. YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS RECEIVE SPECIAL COUNSELING, ARE HOUSED IN FIELD UNITS, AND GIVEN HELP IN SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT. AMONG THE SPECIALIZED LEARNING PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH ARE WORKSHOPS FOR THE RETARDED, FOR THE HANDICAPPED, IN THE ARTS AND CRAFTS AREA, IN VOCATIONAL TRAINING, IN PREPARATION FOR THE GENERAL EQUIVALENCY DIPLOMA, IN GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL THERAPY, AND EVEN FOR THE EAGLE SCOUTS BADGE. EDUCATION FOR ADULT INMATES HAS EXPANDED FROM 66 TEACHERS IN 1975 TO 322 IN 1978. PUBLIC WORK PROJECTS ARE SOUGHT TO KEEP INMATES PRODUCTIVELY OCCUPIED. PROBATION IS INCREASINGLY CONSIDERED AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO INCARCERATION, AND PROBATION-PAROLE OFFICERS NOW SPEND 30 PERCENT MORE TIME WITH THEIR CLIENTS. AN INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY ADJUSTMENT TRAINING PROGRAM PROVIDES SENTENCED OFFENDERS WITH 27 HOURS OF GROUP DYNAMICS AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS FOR COPING. ONLY AFTER THE COURSE DOES THE COURT DECIDE IF AN ACTIVE PRISON TERM IS NECESSARY. PRERELEASE AND AFTERCARE PROGRAMS ASSIST PRISONERS IN THE TRANSITION FROM INSTITUTIONAL TO COMMUNITY LIFE. TO OVERCOME ITS PROBLEMS, DOC NEEDS THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNOR, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND THE STATE'S JUDICIAL BRANCH. SOME CORRECTIONS DATA AND PHOTOGRAPHS ARE INCLUDED. (MRK)