YOUNG OFFENDERS IMPRISONED FOR THE FIRST TIME AND THEIR SUBSEQUENT RETURN TO THE COMMUNITY ARE THE SUBJECTS OF THIS ENGLISH SURVEY AND STUDY OF INMATE ATTITUDES. INMATES' ATTITUDES ARE ASSESSED FROM ARREST TO POSTDETENTION. THE IDEA OF THE CRIMINAL OFFENDER AS SOCIAL WORKER IS INTRODUCED, WITH ATTENTION TO THE THEORETICAL BACKGROUND, RESEARCH SETTING, METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES AND ASSUMPTIONS, AND RESEARCH PROCEDURES. THE PREDETENTION AND INITIAL DETENTION EXPERIENCES OF THE OFFENDERS ARE DISCUSSED REGARDING MOTIVES FOR CRIMINAL CONDUCT, THE ROLE OF THE POLICE AND THE COURTS, AND THE DETERMINANTS OF IDENTITY AT WORK IN BOTH THE FORMAL AND INFORMAL STRUCTURES OF THE CARCERAL SETTING. AN ACCOUNTING IS UNDERTAKEN OF HOW INMATES ESTABLISH IDENTITIES AMONG OTHER INMATES AND WITH THE OFFICERS AND THE PRISON ESTABLISHMENT ITSELF. INMATE ATTITUDES RELATING TO THE MOVE FROM THE CARCERAL SETTING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY ARE EXAMINED. THE PROCESS OF MOVING FROM THE INSIDE TO THE OUTSIDE IS DISCUSSED REGARDING ITS IMPACT ON THE INMATE; EFFORTS AT INTERPRETING SOCIETAL REACTIONS ARE ALSO DISCUSSED. THE INMATE AS AN ESTABLISHED EX-OFFENDER IS ALSO EXAMINED; EX-OFFENDER ATTITUDES ON THE REALITY OF COMMUNITY CRIME, ENGAGING IN CRIMINAL CONDUCT, THE CONTINUING PERSONAL INFLUENCE OF THE DETENTION EXPERIENCE, AND THE CONTINUING PUBLIC INFLUENCE OF THE DETENTION EXPERIENCE ARE ASSESSED. A SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ARE PROVIDED REGARDING THE MEANINGLESSNESS OF DETENTION, THE SEARCH FOR MEANING UPON RELEASE, CRIME AS A FACT AS OPPOSED TO A WAY OF LIFE, AND STRUCTURAL ISSUES. A BIBLIOGRAPHY AND INDEX ARE INCLUDED. (KBL)