Many shock incarceration programs (SIPs) attempt to bring about positive change in adjustment by subjecting inmates to a paramilitary, disciplined institutional environment. These programs are designed to alter the negative aspects of inmate adjustment found in traditional prison. This study compared inmates serving time in a SIP (n=271) with inmates in a minimum-security traditional prison (n=106) and measured attitudinal change and inmate adjustment to the institution over time. The results supported prior research findings that shock incarceration inmates tended to hold more positive attitudes and be better adjusted than traditional inmates during their incarceration. The results also indicated that even though shock incarceration inmates remained positive about their future they experienced some difficulty in adjustment, became increasingly less optimistic about the program, and reported attitudinal change related to specific program outcomes (i.e., work, drug use) similar to traditional inmates. Future research on SIPs and other prison environments needs to consider what attributes of the environment are influencing positive adjustment and attitudinal change. It was also suggested that emphasis be placed on identifying inmates who were likely to respond positively to the shock environment. References