India has a small number of convicted prisoners and a much larger number of inmates who have been detained prior to trial and often prior to being charged with an offense. Many of these inmates must wait months or years before their trials. A small number of mentally ill persons are also incarcerated, awaiting transfer to a mental hospital. Convicted offenders tend to be serving either life sentences for murder or very short sentences. Even allowing for cultural factors and the country's resource limitations, nearly all independent commentators agree that conditions in Indian prisons have been appalling until very recently. Problems include unsuitable buildings, poor sanitation, poor management, virtually untrained and sometimes brutal correctional officers, lack of programs, harsh discipline, and other problems. The prison observed directly for this article had acceptable space, sanitation, and food, but its psychological character was harsh, negative, and cruel. As in other countries, prison reform has low priority in India, and major reform is unlikely despite the hope offered by the Mulla Committee report 6 years ago. Tables, notes, and 31 references