July 1, 1977, was the effective date of the Calif. determinate sentencing law. The law not only established general sentencing policy, but also limited the variation in sentences, defined the principal bases for such variation, and established the specific lengths of prison terms by choosing among a narrow range of statutory options. Similarly, the law severely restricts the power of prison or parole officials to influence the length of prison terms; only by following elaborate due process procedures can they revoke limited amounts of good time. The multitude of variables impacting the California criminal justice system since July 1, 1977, make it difficult to determine which changes are attributable to the determinate sentencing law; however, the operations of the Calif. criminal justice system in the early period of determinate sentencing are described, and possible effects of the determinate sentencing law are suggested. The law extends felons greater procedural protection at the time of sentencing and while serving prison terms. Further, the law appears to have contributed to more equitable sentencing by reducing variability in the length of prison terms for those convicted of similar crimes. Since passing the new law, however, the State legislature has continued to increase imprisonment and the length of prison terms, further aggravating prison crowding. A small sample of interviewed inmates liked the certainty of sentences and term lengths established by the original law, but disliked the penalty increase amendments. The report proposes a multiple-year study of the legislature's actions affecting determinate sentencing and prisons. Tabular and graphic data and 30 references are provided.