Abraham Maslow's theory of motivation offers an effective framework when applied to the prison environment. Central to Maslow's theory is the assertion that all individuals have a five-level hierarchy of needs. At the foundation of the hierarchy are a person's psychological needs. These must be met before an individual can attend to any of the four higher-order needs: safety, belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. While most contemporary prisons often meet the basic psychological needs of prisoners, many fail to meet safety needs. When safety problems exist, the role and behavior of prisoners and staff are defined in negative ways. If the lower levels of psychological needs can be met in the prison environment, a climate for effective treatment and rehabilitation can be created, provided that rehabilitation is the goal of imprisonment. 12 references.