The manual first discusses how some of the problems in hiring, training, and retaining qualified correctional personnel might indirectly cause disturbances. Other factors contributing to prison disturbances are identified as the institutional environment, substandard facilities, inadequate funding, overcrowding, idleness and lack of programming, public apathy, punitive attitudes, and inequities in the criminal justice system. More direct causes of disturbances are related to antisocial inmates, mentally ill inmates, racial/ethnic minorities, prison gangs, and security breaches. Topics discussed as pertinent to general-disturbance prevention are sensitivity to the signs of tension, improvement in facilities, staff visibility, effective communication, intelligence gathering, grievance handling, policy, and standards and accreditation. Also addressed are prevention-related security issues, planning for disturbance control, the use of force, and disturbance control. Appended supplementary information, 35 references.