In 1979, just over two-thirds of the admissions to Cornton Vale had been treated for some form of mental illness prior to imprisonment. Upon entering prison, however, they were not diagnosed by prison staff as being mentally ill. They were classified as having 'psychopathic personality disorder,' which the psychiatric community has designated as an untreatable mental illness, which means that mental hospitals are not required to admit persons deemed to have this disorder. They are customarily imprisoned. The majority of female offenders are being imprisoned not because of the seriousness of their offenses but because they are persistent nuisances who cannot be managed by other institutions. By labeling them as having 'psychopathic personality disorder,' prison administrators justify their use of drugs, surveillance, and strict regimens to control these women. This aggravates their social maladjustment rather than preparing them for community adjustment upon release. 23 references.