An introduction discusses the bureau's legislative mandate and responsibilities and provides definitions of key terms. The data are presented in 40 tables and graphic illustrations. Also included is a narrative summary which explains that 3,545 adults were incarcerated during the year, an increase of 11.54 percent over the figure for 1979. Male commitments comprised 95 percent of the total (or 54 percent white males and 41 percent nonwhite males). The greatest number of offenders were in the 21- to 24-year-old age group (26.8 percent of the total). The major committing offenses of burglary, robbery, larceny-theft, and murder accounted for 53.9 percent of all commitments. By committing category, 69 percent of the commitments were for Crime Index offenses. A differentiation of these by race reveals that with regard to property crimes, 2.1 whites were committed for every nonwhite offender; and with regard to violent crimes, 1.6 nonwhites were committed for every white offender. First time and repeat parolees numbered 2,555, while 796 parole violators were recommitted to the bureau. Other discharges included 511 inmates with unconditional discharges, 253 who completed their maximum sentences, 43 released by Federal authorities, and 750 paroled by county courts.