Although the study involved all the prisons in Ondo State, the focus was on Owo Prison. Data on prison crowding and inmate recidivism were obtained from official records, and views of prison life were solicited from interviews with prison staff and inmates. The prison is a total institution with its own mode of regimentation. Prisons are overcrowded, and they do not adequately prepare inmates for obtaining jobs to facilitate reintegration after release. The inmate subculture gives status to recidivists and tends to foster acceptance based on criminality. Upon release, ex-offenders enter a hostile world where they are ill-prepared in their backgrounds or skills to enter normative employment and receive social acceptance from the normative citizenry. Difficulties in economic survival and social interactions tend to push ex-offenders back toward prison, where they are accepted by fellow inmates and receive free food, shelter, clothing, and medical treatment. Overall, the factors in the prison system and society tend to promote recidivism. 3 tables, 6 references.