SUCH CLASSIFICATION WAS DEEMED NECESSARY TO MEET THE EDUCATIONAL/VOCATIONAL, MEDICAL, MENTAL HEALTH, AND SOCIAL NEEDS OF THE INMATE AND TO FACILITATE THE CUSTODIAL AND REHABILITATIVE FUNCTION OF THE PRISON. A CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS FROM 1972 THROUGH 1976 LEADING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PCP IS PRESENTED. DURING PHASE I OF THE PROGRAM STAFF MEMBERS WERE RECRUITED AND TRAINED, CLASSIFICATION PROCEDURES WERE DEVELOPED, PROBLEMS IN IMPLEMENTING AN INTENSIVE PRISONER CLASSIFICATION PROGRAM WERE IDENTIFIED, AND MODIFICATIONS WERE PROPOSED TO THE COURT. PHASE II REPRESENTED A TRANSITIONAL PERIOD IN WHICH PRISONER CLASSIFICATION WAS BEGUN AND CLASSIFICATION AND STAFF TRAINING PROCEDURES WERE REFINED. BY PHASE III, STAFF TRAINEES FROM THE BOARD OF CORRECTIONS WERE PROFICIENT IN THE USE OF PCP FORMS AND PROCEDURES AND LARGELY SUPPLANTED ORIGINAL UNIVERSITY-AFFILIATED STAFF MEMBERS IN THE CONTINUING CLASSIFICATION OF INMATES AND IN THE CLASSIFICATION REVIEW PROCESS. THE ROLE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA CENTER FOR CORRECTIONAL PSYCHOLOGY IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PCP IS DISCUSSED, AND THE CONNECTIONS AMONG LAW, PSYCHOLOGY, AND CORRECTIONS ARE EXAMINED. TWO BRIEF ARTICLES DEALING WITH THE PCP ARE REPRINTED. ALSO INCLUDED ARE RULES PERTAINING TO INMATES' RIGHTS, CLASSIFICATION AND REVIEW; DEFINITIONS AND CRITERIA FOR GRADE ASSIGNMENTS TO MAXIMUM, CLOSE, MEDIUM, MINIMUM, OR COMMUNITY CUSTODY; AND INMATE INTEREST/ABILITY CRITERIA FOR ASSIGNMENT TO EDUCATIONAL/VOCATIONAL, EMPLOYMENT, TRANSFER, HEALTH, OR SPECIAL PROGRAMS. PCP CLASSIFICATION FORMS, A SAMPLE SUMMARY, AND THE HANDBOOK DEVELOPED TO INFORM THE INMATE ABOUT THE PROJECT AND CLASSIFICATION PROCESS ARE ALSO REPRODUCED. (JAP)