The prison subculture comprises norms, customs, rituals, language, and mannerisms that depart from those required by penal law and prison rules. The Polish legislature, in its Prison Rules of 1974 and 1989, has proscribed the formation of a prison subculture and refers to it as the "hidden life." Two significant phases of Polish prison subculture are from 1944 to 1986 and from 1986 to 1989. The first period is generally characterized by a severe regime, overcrowding, strict bans on information, appalling conditions, and economic exploitation of prisoners. The second period seems to start with the initiation of reform and change, where prison population is reduced, prison conditions are improved, and contact with the outside world is permitted. Since June 1989, the Polish Government has introduced prison system and penal law changes. The government recognizes that economic, social, and political changes make imprisonment along inadequate as a tool to solve social problems. It is anticipated that the Polish prison subculture will be less brutal in the future than in previous periods. 45 references and 1 table