Factors in prison growth in 1981 and 1982 include increased crime and stiffened public attitudes toward crime and criminals. In addition, stricter attitudes toward parolees and greater readiness to return parole violators to prison have also served to compound prison population growth. Other factors are determinate sentencing laws and mandatory sentencing laws. Among notable State patterns mentioned are that the four largest State correctional systems (California, Texas, New York, and Florida) accounted for a third of all State prison inmates. The report discusses measures designed to relieve overcrowding, climbing incarceration rates, slower growth among short-sentence inmates, and the faster growth rate for women than for men. Seven tables are included.