INMATE SELF-GOVERNMENT IS A STRATEGY FOR MOVING PRISONS AWAY FROM THE CRIME CONTROL ESTABLISHMENT AND DEPRIVATION MODELS AND TOWARD THE COMMUNITY SUBSYSTEM AND IMPORTATION MODELS. THE COMMUNITY SUBSYSTEM MODEL VIEWS PRISON AS A LAST RESORT, TO BE USED ONLY WHEN OTHER SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS FAIL TO ELICIT VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE WITH SOCIAL NORMS. IN CONTRAST TO THE DEPRIVATION MODEL OF THE INMATE SUBCULTURE AS RESPONSE TO PRISON ENVIRONMENT, THE IMPORTATION MODEL EMPHASIZES THE SOCIAL-PSYCHOLOGICAL PROCLIVITIES THE INMATES BRING TO PRISON AS FACTORS IN THE INMATE SUBCULTURE. IN EXAMINING THE FEASIBILITY OF INMATE SELF-GOVERNMENT, TWO MAJOR QUESTIONS ARISE: WHETHER THE PRISON ORGANIZATION WILL PROVIDE THE PREREQUISITE CONDITIONS FOR TRUE SELF-GOVERNMENT; AND WHETHER INMATES, DRAWN DISPROPORTIONATELY FROM THE SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION THAT PARTICIPATES LEAST IN POLITICAL DECISIONMAKING, WILL POSSESS THE INCENTIVE AND EXPERIENCE NECESSARY FOR TRUE SELF-GOVERNMENT. IF INMATE SELF-GOVERNMENT IS TO BE VIABLE, FUNDAMENTAL VALUE CHANGES ARE REQUIRED OF PRISON ADMINISTRATORS AND STAFF. HOWEVER, THE FEASIBILITY OF INMATE SELF-GOVERNMENT RESTS ULTIMATELY WITH THE OPENING OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR POLITICAL PARTICIPATION AMONG LOWER-STATUS GROUPS IN SOCIETY GENERALLY. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED).