IN PARTICULAR, RESEARCH INTO PENAL MEASURES APPLIED TO YOUNG ADULT OFFENDERS IS CONSIDERED IN THE PERIOD OF OPTIMISM IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR A SOCIOLOGY OF PENAL RESEARCH IN ADDITION TO A SOCIOLOGY OF PENAL INSTITUTIONS. THE IMPLICATIONS OF AN EIGHT-YEAR RESEARCH PROJECT CARRIED OUT IN A CLOSED INSTITUTION BY THE AUTHOR AND HIS COLLEAGUES ARE EXAMINED AND IT IS SUGGESTED THAT, WHILE PENOLOGICAL STUDIES INTO EFFECTIVENESS OF TREATMENT SHOULD BE CONTINUED, THEY SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF A CRITICAL CRIMINOLOGY IN WHICH ATTEMPTS ARE MADE TO LINK THEORIES OF SOCIAL DEVIANCE WITH THEORIES OF PENOLOGICAL PROCESSES. THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOCIAL PHENOMENOLOGY HAS NOT SO FAR BEEN LINKED WITH PENOLOGICAL RESEARCH. IF THIS WERE DONE IT IS SUGGESTED THAT PENOLOGICAL RESEARCH WOULD AVOID THE PIT-FALL OF BECOMING NO MORE THAN A TECHNOLOGICAL AID TO THOSE RUNNING THE PENAL SYSTEM. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT) --SUMMARIES IN ENGLISH, FRENCH, AND GERMAN