On June 30, 1980, 12,269 wards were under commitment -- an increase of 4.3 percent over the number committed on June 30, 1979. The number of wards in institutions increased 4.8 percent to 5,214, while the number on parole increased by 4.1 percent to 6,831. The authority accepted 3,762 new wards during the year -- 2,105 from juvenile courts and 1,657 from criminal courts -- or 25 fewer than in the previous year. In addition, 1,038 wards were returned to institutions as parole violators -- 25 fewer than in the year before. Releases to parole from institutions increased by 6.7 percent to 4,315 in 1979-80, and the mean length of stay in institutions was 12.4 months (11.8 months in 1978-79). The length of stay for males and females was about the same. The mean length of stay on parole was 18.9 months, compared to 20 months in 1978-79. Finally, for 3 years prior to 1978-79, the commitment rate averaged between 84 and 86 commitments per 100,000 youth population; however, it rose to 90.7 in 1978-79 and remained about the same in 1979-80. The juvenile court male commitment rate increased from 108 to 134 over this period, while the male criminal court rate decreased from 307 to 283. A population movement chart and data tables are included.