Prison labor can reduce the debilitating effects of inmate idleness, provide meaningful ways to do time, and enhance vocational skills for some inmates. It is not a panacea for all the problems of prisons, however. Productive and effective prison labor has always been hampered by offenders' social histories, the prison environment, and the social and political environments. The constraints imposed by the inmate labor force will not vanish by using private managers; the deficiencies must be addressed through comprehensive, costly, and nonprofitable programs of academic and vocational education. The goal of full and meaningful employment for all able-bodied inmates is probably not obtainable and is not even desirable, given the varying needs of the inmate population. Opportunities for work experience may be beneficial for some offenders under certain conditions. Others may benefit more from programs that remedy academic and vocational deficiencies. Realistic criteria must be developed to determine the effectiveness of prison labor programs, criteria related to ordered objectives for prison work. 34 references.