AN OVERVIEW OF THE PURPOSES AND TECHNIQUES OF BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION OPENS THE DISCUSSION. BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION IS DESCRIBED AS THE SYSTEMATIC APPLICATION OF LEARNING THEORY PRINCIPLES TO CHANGING BEHAVIOR. EMPHASIS ON EVALUATION AND COLLECTION OF DATA IS SAID TO BE A COMMON CHARACTERISTIC RUNNING THROUGH ALL BEHAVIORAL MODIFICATION TECHNIQUES. THE DISCUSSION THEN TURNS TO SUPREME COURT DECISIONS AS THEY RELATE TO BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION. THE MATTER OF CONTRACTS -- WITH VOLUNTARY CLIENTS AND WITH INVOLUNTARY CLIENTS -- IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS IS CONSIDERED. SUPREME COURT RULINGS ON THE USE OF ADVERSIVE CONDITIONING -- NOXIOUS STIMULI (CHEMICALS, ELECTROSHOCK, ETC.) -- IN INSTITUTIONS ARE DISCUSSED. IMPLICATIONS OF THE COURT RULINGS FOR CORRECTIONS ARE CONSIDERED, AND LIKELY DEVELOPMENTS IN BEHAVIORAL TECHNOLOGY, LAW, AND RELATED FIELDS ARE NOTED. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT, EVEN IF BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION WERE ABLE TO 'CURE' ALL OFFENDERS, THE QUESTION OF HOW TO EQUIP THE OFFENDERS TO LIVE IN SOCIETY REMAINS. IF A RELEASED OFFENDER IS MOTIVATED TO GET A JOB, THE PROBABILITY OF HIS SUCCESS IS ZERO IF THE JOB IS NOT AVAILABLE. (LKM)