THE FRENCH CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM HAS GONE THROUGH A PERIOD OF REORGANIZATION AT BOTH ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGISLATIVE LEVELS. AS OF JANUARY 1, 1977, THE PRISON POPULATION TOTALED 31,653 PERSONS, OF WHICH 875 WERE WOMEN. OF THE 30,778 MEN, THERE WERE 12,817 IN PRETRIAL DETENTION, 6,490 SENTENCED TO 1 YEAR AT MOST, AND 11,471 SENTENCED TO A LONGER PERIOD. THE PRISON SERVICE HAS A STAFF OF ABOUT 11,000. LOCAL PRISONS OR JAILS RECEIVE PRETRIAL PRISONERS AND CONVICTED OFFENDERS WHOSE SENTENCES DO NOT EXCEED 1 YEAR. SPECIAL UNITS PROVIDE HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND AS HOLD AND TREAT MULTIPLE RECIDIVISTS. IN FRANCE, AS IN MANY OTHER COUNTRIES, THE MOST STRIKING FACT ABOUT FEMALE PRISONERS IS THEIR VERY SMALL NUMBER COMPARED WITH THE NUMBER OF MALE PRISONERS AND THE GENERAL POPULATION. WHERE SENTENCES FOR ALL OFFENDERS ARE TO BE CARRIED OUT IN PRISON, THE GOVERNING PRINCIPLE IS TO PROVIDE DIVERSE SYSTEMS OF RULES ACCORDING TO OFFENDER PERSONALITIES. HIGH-SECURITY PRISONS HOLD ABOUT 250 TO 550 PRISONERS. IN ADDITION, THERE ARE REINFORCED SECURITY CENTERS FOR OFFENDERS CONSIDERED TO BE DANGEROUS OR LIKELY TO CAUSE TROUBLE IN LARGE COMMUNITIES. EACH REINFORCED SECURITY CENTER HAS AN AVERAGE CAPACITY OF 30 PERSONS. DETENTION CENTERS ARE OPEN OR CLOSED ESTABLISHMENTS WHERE THE REGIME IS AIMED PRINCIPALLY AT RESOCIALIZING INMATES. REFORM IN 1975 ORGANIZED PRISONS FOR LONG-TERM OFFENDERS TO INCLUDE LIBERAL GUIDELINES FOR CONDITIONS IN DETENTION CENTERS. GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PRISON REGIME AND THE PENAL SYSTEM IN FRANCE ARE DESCRIBED. (DEP)