IN RESPONSE TO ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES TAKEN BY THE BOARD, THE STATE LEGISLATURE ENACTED AMENDMENTS TO THE CRIME VICTIMS COMPENSATION STATUTE DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE STATUS OF INNOCENT VICTIMS. AMONG PROVISIONS OF THE LAW, DESCRIBED AS THE MOST PROGRESSIVE IN THE NATION, ARE THAT COMPENSATION INFORMATION AND APPLICATION FORMS BE AVAILABLE AT ALL POLICE STATIONS AND OTHER APPROPRIATE LOCATIONS, THAT ALL VICTIMS BE TOLD OF THEIR RIGHTS TO COMPENSATION, AND THAT THE BOARD BE ALLOWED TO CONTRACT DIRECTLY FOR COUNSELING SERVICES TO VICTIMS SUFFERING TRAUMATIC SHOCK. THE BOARD WAS ALSO ACTIVE IN PROMOTING FEDERAL LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE MATCHING GRANTS FOR COMPENSATION PROGRAMS AND HELPED OTHER STATES SET UP SUCH PROGRAMS. THE REPORT POINTS OUT THAT, ALTHOUGH THE NUMBER OF CLAIMS RECEIVED BY THE BOARD HAS INCREASED FROM 196 TO 4,250 FROM 1967 TO 1977, THE BOARD'S INVESTIGATIVE STAFF HAS ONLY INCREASED FROM 5 TO 14 IN THE SAME PERIOD. STATISTICS ARE PRESENTED ON THE BOARD'S WORKLOAD, THE NUMBER OF CLAIMS RECEIVED AND DECISIONS MADE, THE KINDS OF CRIMES IN WHICH COMPENSATED VICTIMS WERE INVOLVED, AND THE AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION PROVIDED. OF THE BOARD'S TOTAL 1976-77 $3,653,000 BUDGET, $2,034,678 WAS EXPENDED ON PERSONAL INJURY CLAIMS, $1,190,779 ON DEATH CLAIMS, AND $3,210 ON SPECIAL PAYMENTS. THE BOARD'S PUBLICITY EFFORTS DURING THE YEAR ARE SUMMARIZED, AND NEW DIRECTIONS ARE NOTED. PLANS FOR 1977-78 LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES ARE DESCRIBED. CASE HISTORIES OF SOME OF THE MORE EXPENSIVE CLAIMS HANDLED BY THE BOARD ARE RECOUNTED. TABULAR DATA, A CHART DEPICTING THE 'CRIMINAL INJUSTICE SYSTEM' IN REFERENCE TO THE PLIGHT OF THE VICTIM AS COMPARED TO THAT OF THE OFFENDER, AND A TABULAR SUMMARY OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPENSATION PROGRAMS IN 19 STATES ARE INCLUDED.