Date analysis indicates that the decline in inmates with sentences greater than 6 months is probably due to the increased ability of the State Central Classification Branch to process inmates from the local jails to the State correctional system, rather than to a decline in felon convictions. The observed increase in the adult population of the State correctional system has resulted from an increase in the total number of convictions for Virginia crimes and from a decline in the turnover rate, with a significantly lower number of inmates being released than in the past. The greater percentage of probationers among inmates convicted of crimes has resulted in a doubling of felon parole releases between 1968 and 1975, while the number of prison discharges to felons remained nearly constant. Additional research is needed to establish the disposition of cases coming before the courts, the diversion of cases from the State correctional system once conviction has been obtained, and the effect of trends in sentencing on the Department of Corrections. It is recommended that reporting systems within the Department of Corrections be improved. Major reservations are noted concerning the reliability of corrections data, including the jail data, commitment and confinement data, discharge and release data, and probation data. Two figures, 12 tables, and sources for Virginia corrections statistics are provided.