This report is based on presentations by Dr. T. A. Ryan, director of criminal justice planning at the University of South Carolina and Susan Humphrey-Barnett, director of statewide programs for Alaska Department of Corrections. The document gives historical background of correctional systems and their treatment of women from the 18th century to the 1980s. The report also profiles the female-offender population and records changes from the 1970s to the early 1980s. While the national crime rate has been increasing, the proportion of adult females in the total offender population has remained at about 4%. Historically, women in prison have been less educated than women in the general population. From 1975 to 1983, more than half the women in prison had less than a high school education. The percentage of adult female offenders with some college education decreased during the same period. The educational level of Alaska's female offenders was higher than that of the same population nationwide. Nationally, 11% of the female offender population was enrolled in Adult Basic Education (ABE) programs in 1983, while Alaska reported 5% of its population being enrolled. Nine percent of the women nationally were enrolled in General Education Development (GED) programs; Alaska's figure was 16%. Other statistics involve: prisoners' average age, ethnicity, family status, crime classification, vocational training, postsecondary education levels, access to prison industries, testing and counseling, and child care. The document predicts and encourages changes in women's correctional systems in keeping with changes in the general population. The seminar agenda and 11 references are appended. (TES)