THE ATTICA COMMISSION CONCLUDED THAT CONCERN EXPRESSED BY THE GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK AND OTHER OFFICIALS THAT ONLY MINIMUM FORCE BE USED TO RESTORE ORDER AT ATTICA WAS NOT TRANSLATED INTO EFFECTIVE RESTRAINTS. IN THE ASSAULT BY STATE POLICE, 39 PERSONS WERE KILLED BY GUNFIRE AND 80 OTHERS SUFFERRED GUNSHOT WOUNDS. THE COMMISSION ALSO FOUND THAT HUNDREDS OF INMATES LATER WERE BRUTALIZED BY CORRECTION OFFICERS, TROOPERS, AND SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES. VIOLENCE AT ATTICA IS SAID TO REFLECT CONDITIONS IN AMERICAN PRISONS IN GENERAL. VIOLENCE-PRONE ATTITUDES OUTSIDE THE PRISONS ARE TRANSLATED INTO VIOLENT ACTION INSIDE THE PRISONS. THE PRACTICE OF DIVERTING LESSER OFFENDERS FROM THE PRISON SYSTEM HAS AFFECTED THE NATURE OF THE PRISON POPULATION. DESPITE DIVERSION, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PRISONERS CONTINUES TO RISE. THE LEVEL OF VIOLENCE -- CORRECTION OFFICER AGAINST INMATE, INMATE AGAINST CORRECTION OFFICER, AND INMATE AGAINST INMATE -- IN AMERICAN PRISONS IS ILLUSTRATED IN EXCERPTS FROM REPORTS ON STATE PRISONS IN CALIFORNIA, MASSACHUSETTS, AND ALABAMA. THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS ARE OFFERED: (1) ESTABLISHMENT OF VICTIM COMPENSATION PROGRAM; (2) REEXAMINATION OF THE PURPOSES OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SANCTIONING SYSTEM; (3) REFORM OF SENTENCING PRACTICES TO REDUCE INEQUITIES RESULTING FROM UNCONTROLLED JUDICIAL DISCRETION; (4) ENFORCEMENT OF STANDARDS FOR PRISON CONDITIONS; AND (5) ENCOURAGEMENT OF PROGRAMS TO HELP EX-INMATES ADJUST TO FREEDOM.