The environment of the super-max facility, in which inmates are labeled as being dangerous and disruptive, are not allowed to participate in routine prison activities, and live in an atmosphere of mutual suspicion and distrust with staff, does not lend itself to the conduct of criminological research. Mental health professionals in these settings are likely to find themselves subject to manipulation by both staff members and inmates. Persons outside the prison system, including university researchers, are often regarded suspiciously by both sides, and may have a difficult time conducting objective research. Another reason for the shortage of research on super-max prisons is that they are intimidating places. Reliable and accurate data on quality of life within super- max facilities might encompass the number of staff and inmates killed or assaulted, the number of escape attempts, the number and frequency of inmate transfers for psychiatric reasons, staff turnover, and other staff problems. Data gathered over time and in different institutions are essential to understanding how individual inmates adjust to incarceration in super-max custody.