There were 4,083 commitments to the CYA in calendar year 1981, an increase of 3 percent from the 3,968 commitments in 1980. Of the total first commitments, 2,170 (or 53 percent) were from the juvenile courts and 1,913 (or 47 percent) were from the criminal courts. A total of 1,002 wards were returned to CYA institutions as parole violators, 8 percent below the 1980 level. Releases to parole during 1981 totaled 4,221, 3 percent less than the 4,355 in 1980. The number of wards in institutions at the end of 1981 was 5,930, an increase of 11 percent over the total at the beginning of the year. Wards released to parole in 1981 stayed an average of 13.1 months in CYA institutions. The commitment rate to the CYA increased in 1981 to 100.7 commitments per 100,000 youths in the State. The previous year the commitment rate was 96.6 commitments per 100,000 youth population. Tables and diagrams are supplied. (Author summary modified)