THE SYSTEM ESTABLISHES PROCEDURES FOR THE JOINT PARTICIPATION OF INMATES AND STAFF IN KEY AREAS OF DECISION MAKING AFFECTING AN INDIVIDUAL'S INSTITUTIONAL CAREER. WARD (INMATE) AND STAFF TRAINING WAS PROVIDED UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF AN OUTISDE CONSULTANT OVER FOUR-MONTH PERIODS AMONG THE INSTITUTION'S EIGHT LIVING UNITS. EVALUATION DATA WERE COLLECTED OVER A NINE MONTH PERIOD BY GATHERING DATA ON THE EXTENT AND QUALITY OF WARD/STAFF PARTICIPATION IN SEVERAL DECISION AREAS AND THE EXTENT OF WARD/STAFF PARTICIPATION IN LIVING UNIT POLICIES AND PHASE MOVEMENTS USING SPECIALLY DEVISED FORMS. FINDINGS INCLUDE THAT WARD/STAFF RATINGS INDICATE HIGH LEVELS OF WARD PARTICIPATION IN KEY AREAS OF DECISION MAKING AND, BASED ON THESE RATINGS, THERE WAS A DISTINCT INCREASE OF WARD PARTICIPATION DURING THE TOTAL STUDY PERIOD. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT RESULTS SUGGEST THAT THE SYSTEM WAS IMPLEMENTED EFFECTIVELY ON SEVERAL OF THE LIVING UNITS WITH WARDS AND STAFF SHARING IN CRITICAL AREAS OF DECISION MAKING TO AN INCREASING EXTENT. PARTICIPATORY MANAGEMENT WAS LINKED TO DECLINE IN DISCIPLINARY PROBLEMS AND SOCIAL CLIMATE IMPROVEMENT.