In 1981 Martinson reported there is no clear evidence that prison education or skill development programs have been successful. Most career counseling programs have been fragmented, short-term attempts with little or no evaluative measures. The basic problem is that career counseling or rehabilitation has been viewed by prison officials and the public as a frill rather than a core program. Because of the major shift from centralized counseling to a decentralized counseling or unit management system in many prisons, inmates have a high interest in the development of effective career counseling programs. Such programs must be systematic and comprehensive if they are to avoid past failures. They must include affective, cognitive, educational, behavioral, and experiential components if they are to positively impact the prison population and ensure prolonged public support. Career counselors must be given the authority to develop and coordinate all prison career counseling components. 25 references.