The goals of the committee's inquiry were to examine the philosophy, policies, and practices of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) and to submit recommendations for making Ohio's prisons safer, more secure, and less stressful environments for staff and inmates so as to prevent and reduce inmate violence. Prison programs -- education, work, training, counseling, and substance abuse education and treatment -- were studied, with the goal of returning inmates to the community as lawful, responsible, and productive citizens. The committee's investigation was accomplished through hearings, the development of "white papers" by experts in the corrections field, and interviews with inmates. The major problems identified by the committee were prison crowding; inmate idleness; inmate threat groups (gangs); mentally ill, psychologically disturbed, and antisocial inmates; and offenders with substance abuse problems. Recommendations for addressing each of these areas are offered. Underlying principles reflected in the recommendations are appropriate commitments to prison; safe and humane prison operations and conditions; substance abuse treatment for inmates; opportunities for self-improvement; moral development; services for mentally ill and mentally retarded inmates; and racial, ethnic, and religious fairness. 4 tables and appended supplementary information