A speech by United States Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger in 1981 provided the impetus for the formation of a task force that recommended mandatory literacy programs for all Federal inmates who functioned at less than the sixth-grade level. The Federal Bureau of Prisons adopted such a policy in May 1982. The policy met with few objections from staff and inmates and resulted in sharp increases in enrollments and completions of adult basic education programs. The program included constant monitoring. In 1986, the standard was raised to the eighth grade level in recognition of the rising expectations of employers. The two main factors contributing to the program's success are the connection between literacy achievement, wages, and promotions in prison industries and the availability of computer-assisted instruction. The experiences of the States with mandatory programs suggests that these programs should be expanded, because education requirements for many jobs continue to rise while the available labor force for these jobs is declining. 5 references.