The quality of staff-inmate communications apparently plays a critical role in the reduction of violent behavior in institutions. Analyses of prison riots show that inmate alienation, based on the breakdown of staff-inmate communication, was a powerful determinant of such riots. The level of staff experience and training can also influence the degree of violence observed in a prison or secure hospital as can staff morale. The frequency of inmate contact with significant outside visitors is likewise a factor that influences institutional violence. Other factors that contribute to violence are crowding; the monotony, frustration, and deprivation of institutional life; the level of security and control; and administrative changes and inconsistency. Overall, this article argues that the characteristics of an institution's regime, notably the quality of the staff and management policies, greatly influence the level of violence in an institution. 2 figures and 54 references