THE 1978 HOUSE OF COMMONS REPORT ON REDUCING PRESSURES ON THE PRISON SYSTEM WAS THE SUBJECT OF A 1-DAY CONFERENCE HELD IN JUNE 1979. THIS REPORT CONTAINS THE THREE PRINCIPAL SPEECHES DELIVERED AT THE MEETING, SUMMARIES OF THE DISCUSSIONS, AND THE RESULTS OF A QUESTIONNAIRE COMPLETED BY PARTICIPANTS. BEGINNING WITH A DESCRIPTION OF PRISON CONDITIONS AND REASONS FOR IMPRISONMENT, THE FIRST SPEAKER ALSO FOCUSED ON CATEGORIES OF PRISONERS WHO DO NOT BENEFIT FROM PRISON, INCLUDING THE MENTALLY DISORDERED, ALCOHOLICS, AND FINE DEFAULTERS. SENTENCING POLICIES WERE ALSO COVERED. A PRISON DIRECTOR EXAMINED THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF PRISON ON YOUNG OFFENDERS, STAFF, AND INMATES. IN A SPEECH GIVEN BY A PROBATION OFFICER, ALTERNATIVES TO PRISON WERE DESCRIBED SUCH AS PROBATION, COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND DAY CENTERS WHICH OFFER TRAINING AND COUNSELING. PARTICIPANTS WERE ASKED TO INDICATE AGREEMENT OR DISAGREEMENT WITH EACH RECOMMENDATION OF THE GOVERNMENT REPORT ON A QUESTIONNAIRE. THE RESULTS, WHICH ARE APPENDED, DEMONSTRATED CONSIDERABLE APPROVAL FOR THE RECOMMENDATIONS AMONG PERSONS WORKING IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PENAL SYSTEM. (MJM)