The Department's basic mission is to protect society more effectively by using methods of training and treatment instead retributive punishment to rehabilitate youth convicted of offenses. During 1980, the Department gave major emphasis to planning for a continuing increase in institutional populations, which surpassed total capacity at year's end by about 150 beds. The populations trend is expected to continue to climb for at least the next 2 years. A new Population Management Section was created in the Case Services Division to manage the flow of wards into various programs. Special parole reentry programs were established in living units at two institutions, where carefully screened wards are prepared for parole 90 days earlier than they otherwise would be. The Parole Services Branch was reorganized in 1979, with updating occurring throughout 1980. Intensive service and supervision are provided during each parolee's first 90 days in the community. The major task of the Prevention and Community Corrections Branch in 1980 was the administration of the County Justice System Subvention Program, which replaced State funding provisions for county probation departments' special supervision programs and juvenile homes, ranches, and camps, as well as maintenance operations and construction subventions. The Management Services Branch implemented a centralized, computerized training information system which has the capability of providing control agencies, departmental management, and staff with comprehensive training data. Tabular data cover commitments to the Department, characteristics of first commitments, the population movement, the length of institutional stay, parole population movement and length of stay, parole performance, and long-term trends.