This document reports sentences imposed, consecutive sentences imposed, and length of stay, all by offense, for 1979 and for the preceding 5 years where possible. The two primary sources of data are numerous population reports, prepared manually by department personnel, and the computerized inmate data files. While the data may lack precision, due to discrepancies between records, valuable information on general trends and approximate values is conveyed. During 1979 new commitments totaled 5,896, parole violatros with new sentences 1,126, and technical parole violators 830. In terms of percentage, new commitments represented 75 percent, parole violators 11 percent. Ninety-seven percent of the total admissions were male; 57 percent were black, and 41 percent were white. With regard to age at commitment, 25 percent were 18 to 20, 29 percent were 21 to 24, and 21 percent were 25 to 29. The average population under department custody totaled 19,486 for the year, compared with 9,559 for 1974. Comparable figures and 3,217 for 1974. Slightly over 46 percent of those inmates whose cases were heard by the prisoner review board were granted parole in 1979, down from over 54 percent in 1974. Extensive tables and a few graphs constitute the report.