INMATES ARE DISTRIBUTED BY REGION AND STATE AND ARE DIFFERENTIATED BY AGE, SEX, RACE, MARITAL STATUS, LEVEL OF EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, LEGAL STATUS AT THE TIME OF ARREST, OFFENSE, AND LENGTH OF STAY ON DEATH ROW. INFORMATION ON THE METHOD OF DISPOSITION FROM THE DEATH SENTENCE IS GIVEN FOR THOSE REMOVED FROM UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH. THE REPORT ALSO PROVIDES INFORMATION ON EXECUTIONS CARRIED OUT DURING THE 1930-76 PERIOD AND ON DEVELOPMENTS AFFECTING THE STATUS OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT LAWS DURING 1976. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE SERIES, THE REPORT FOCUSES EXCLUSIVELY ON THOSE INMATES WHO ARE AT ACTUAL RISK, EXCLUDING FROM THE COUNT PERSONS SENTENCED TO DEATH UNDER STATUTES SUBSEQUENTLY FOUND UNCONSTITUTIONAL BY A STATE OR FEDERAL SUPREME COURT. THIS CHANGE DIFFERENTIATES THE 1976 REPORT FROM EARLIER REPORTS, WHICH CONTINUED TO REPORT SUCH INMATES AS UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH UNTIL THE ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COURT'S FINDING.