FISCAL YEAR 1978 THROUGH 1979 HAS SEEN SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS TOWARD THE DEPARTMENT'S OBJECTIVES OF IMPROVING FACILITIES, REFINING PROGRAMS, AND COORDINATING ADMINISTRATIVE EFFORTS. SPECIFIC GOALS INCLUDE INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEGAL OFFENDER RESPONSIBILITY PROVIDING A SECURE AND HUMANE ENVIRONMENT FOR OFFENDERS, AND RETURNING THE OFFENDER TO THE COMMUNITY AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME. THESE GOALS HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN A NUMBER OF WAYS. FOR EXAMPLE, EDUCATIONAL, VOCATIONAL, AND SELF-HELP PROGRAMS ARE NOW OFFERED AT EACH CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION. DURING THE YEAR, CONTRACTUAL DOCUMENTS AND BIDS WERE TAKEN FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW NEBRASKA STATE PENITENTIARY, SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION IN 1982. PLANS WERE DEVELOPED TO CENTRALIZE THE DEPARTMENTAL ACCOUNTING AND PURCHASING FUNCTIONS. ALSO, EXPANDED AND IMPROVED TRAINING WAS DEVELOPED AND OFFERED TO DEPARTMENTAL EMPLOYEES. THE TOTAL INMATE POPULATION FOR THE YEAR IN ADULT INSTITUTIONS WAS 1,064; POSTCARE CENTERS FOR ADULTS TOTALED 200 RESIDENTS; CONFINED JUVENILE OFFENDERS TOTALED 187; AND PAROLEES, ABOUT ADULTS AND JUVENILES TOTALED 501 FOR THE YEAR. THESE FIGURES REPRESENT AN 8-PERCENT DECREASE IN TOTAL INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR. PERSONNEL SERVICES, GENERAL OPERATIONS, AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURES FOR THE YEAR TOTALED $29,320,442. SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS WAS MADE IN CORRECTIONAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS; 496 OFFENDERS COMPLETED VOCATIONAL, HIGH SCHOOL, OR COLLEGE TRANSFER COURSES DURING THE YEAR. STATISTICAL TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED. (LWM)