According to Norman A. Carlson, Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the Federal prison population has decreased during the past 3 years. Since reaching an all-time high of 30,400 in August 1977, the inmate population has declined and now stands at 24,300. The principal reason for the decline is a shift in the Department of Justice's prosecution policy to emphasize white collar and organized crime, public corruption, and major narcotics violations. The number of offenders committed from armed bank robbery, traditionally the largest offense category, declined during this period. The Bureau of Prisons has attempted to significantly upgrade staff through recruitment and training of correctional officers. The bureau has made extensive use of community treatment centers. Cecil C. McCall, Chairman of the U.S. Parole Commission, explains the implementation of the Presumptive Parole Date Plan, under which every prisoner, except those with a minimum sentence of 10 years or more, receives an early hearing to determine his presumptive release date according to commission guidelines. About 35 hearing examiners work in panels of two to hear the inmates, who come before them within 120 days of entering the system. Four appendixes are provided.