The research division of the Connecticut Department of Corrections examined incident reports and daily population reports at the larger metropolitan correctional centers (Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport) in each of the 3 summer months during 1976-79. During this time period, inmate populations at each center drastically fluctuated. The findings indicated no evidence that an increase in the inmate population at these community centers results in an increase in the number of inmate incidents reported. The average number of counts per incident remains fairly constant despite fluctuations in the inmate population. While the average severity of incidents increased, the change is not statistically significant. The average number of days intervening between an incident and a disciplinary hearing for that incident does not rise with an increase in center population. Incidents reports are reports of behavior rather than behavior itself. While it may be logical to assume that officers faithfully report inmate behavior, other factors such as supervisors' expectations, officer-to-inmate ratio, or officers' attitudes about writing tickets may have as much to do with reporting incidents as does inmate behavior. These factors may not be 'constant' from year to year. Thus, this long-term study weakens the basic assumption that increaes in correctional center population automatically trigger increases in inmate disciplinary incidents. Extensive graphs and tables support the study. (Author abstract modified)