The association's membership consists of over 21,000 active and retired magistrates in England and Wales. The association's goals are mainly to educate magistrates in the law, the administration of justice, the treatment of offenders, and the best crime prevention methods to enable them to perform their public duties in the most competent and efficient manner. The report begins with summaries of the association's main activities during the year and resolutions presented at the association's annual meeting. Several laws enacted by parliament in 1977 and 1978 are summarized. Activities of the association's joint standing committee, the executive committee, and committees on treatment of offenders, laws, training, overseas matters, juvenile courts, and road traffic are described. The report's first appendix lists the honorary officers and activities of each of the association's 54 branches during the year. Additional appendixes present reports and recommendations on film censorship and the administration of the prison service, financial statements, and lists of officers and committee members of the association.