THE VIEW OF PRISONERS AS ISOLATED INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY OR MAY NOT BECOME SOCIALIZED INTO A INCLUSIVE INMATE CULTURE THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN PRIMARY GROUPS IS NO LONGER USEFUL IN DESCRIBING THE CONTEMPORARY PRISON, THE AUTHOR CONTENDS. HE MAINTAINS THAT ISSUES OF CLASS AND CLASS CONFLICT HAVE BEEN IMPORTED FROM THE STREET INTO THE PRISON SO THAT INMATE SOCIETY IS HIGHLY FACTIONATED AT THE INTERMEDIATE OR GROUP LEVEL. AMONG THE STRATIFYING GROUPS FOUND IN PRISONS ARE GROUPS ORGANIZED ALONG RACIAL LINES, POLITICAL GROUPS SUCH AS THE BLACK PANTHERS OR THE YOUNG LORDS PARTY, AND RELIGIOUS GROUPS SUCH AS THE BLACK MUSLIMS. EACH OF THESE GROUPS IS BRIEFLY DESCRIBED. THE AUTHOR CONCLUDES THAT THE PRISON COMMUNITY MAY BE VIEWED AS AN ARENA WHERE COMPETING GROUPS SEEK AT EACH OTHER'S EXPENSE LARGER MEMBERSHIPS AND GREATER POWER. IMPLICATIONS OF THIS VIEW FOR PRISON ADMINISTRATION AND CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS ARE EXAMINED.