FOLLOWING A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE RESOURCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO STUDY CORRECTIONAL PLANNING FOR THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, THIS OVERVIEW SURVEYS THE PRESENT CONDITION OF CALIFORNIA CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES. IN FISCAL YEAR 1976 TO 1977 THE DEPARTMENT HAD A BUDGET OF $258 MILLION AND 8,400 CAREER EMPLOYEES. IT OPERATED 12 MAJOR CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS, 19 MINIMUM SECURITY CONSERVATION CAMPS, 2 COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL CENTERS, 60 LOCAL PAROLE OFFICES, PLUS OUTPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC CLINICS AND A FEW COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS. THE SURVEY FINDS THAT EXISTING INSTITUTIONS ARE LARGE PHYSICAL PLANTS WHICH ARE EITHER SUBSTANDARD OR ARE LAID OUT IN A WAY THAT RESTRICTS THE ADMINISTRATOR'S ABILITY TO MANAGE INMATES SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY. AGE, RACE, SEX, AND OFFENSE DATA ARE REVIEWED FOR INMATES. IT IS FOUND THAT THE INMATE POPULATION IS YOUNGER, MORE VIOLENT, AND MORE URBAN THAN IN YEARS PAST, AND THE PROBLEMS POSED BY PRISON GANGS ARE REVIEWED. RECENT INCREASES IN INMATE RIGHTS AND FEWER RESTRICTIONS ON INMATE BEHAVIOR HAVE FACILITATED THE OPERATIONS OF THESE GANGS. MAJOR CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM NEEDS ARE IDENTIFIED AS INCREASED PHYSICAL SAFETY FOR STAFF AND OTHER INMATES AND GREATER OPPORTUNITY FOR MEANINGFUL WORK FOR INMATES. THE EFFECT OF THE DETERMINATE SENTENCING LAW ON PRISON POPULATION IS REVIEWED. THE SUDDEN DECREASE IN NUMBER OF INMATES IN 1977 IS EXPECTED TO BE OFFSET BY AN INCREASE IN 1978 AS MORE PERSONS ARE INCARCERATED UNDER THIS STATUTE. THE SYSTEM USED TO PROJECT PRISON POPULATION IS BRIEFLY DESCRIBED.