INTERVIEWS WITH OFFICERS AT THE U.S. PENITENTIARY IN ATLANTA, GA., REVEALED THAT MANY OF THE OFFICERS HAD EXPECTED TO FIND EASY WORK IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF EXPLICIT RULES AND REGULATIONS, UNIFORMITY, AND DISCIPLINED INMATES. NEARLY HALF OF THE OFFICERS FOUND THAT THEIR STEREOTYPES OF THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICER'S JOB WERE INACCURATE. OF THESE, TWO-THIRDS ATTRIBUTED THE DISCREPANCY TO INMATE FREEDOM OR LACK OF DISCIPLINE. THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICER'S ROLE INCLUDES THE EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF CUSTODIAL FUNCTIONS, THE MAINTENANCE OF A STATE OF READINESS IN CASE AN INCIDENT OR CRISIS OCCURS, AND THE PERCEPTIVE DIRECTION OF INMATE ACTIVITIES. THESE ROLE COMPONENTS ARE THE MAJOR DIMENSIONS OF 'PRISONER PROCESSING' AS AN OCCUPATION. THE COMBINATION OF TECHNICAL COMPETENCE, HUMAN RELATIONS SKILLS, AND ADROIT HANDLING OF STRESSFUL SITUATIONS MAKES FOR AN EFFECTIVE CORRECTIONAL OFFICER, AND OFFICERS ARE EVALUATED BY THEIR SUPERVISORS IN TERMS OF THESE MEASURES. HOWEVER, THE MEASURES ARE LIMITED IN THEIR ABILITY TO DISTINGUISH EXCELLENCE DURING THE COURSE OF ROUTINE DUTIES. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT EFFORTS TO PROFESSIONALIZE THE ROLE OF THE CUSTODIAL OFFICER HAVE BEEN IMPEDED BY THE ABSENCE OF A COMPELLING MOTIVE FOR CHANGE, BY ERRONEOUS OCCUPATIONAL IMAGES, AND BY LIMITATIONS OF THE PERFORMANCE CRITERIA USED TO EVALUATE OFFICERS. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED.