THE DISCUSSION OPENS WITH A REVIEW OF THE EFFECTS OF UNEMPLOYMENT ON CRIME AND OF CRIME ON OFFENDER EMPLOYMENT. EXPERIENCES IN OFFENDER TRAINING AND JOB PLACEMENT ARE TRACED AND ASSESSED. THE PRISON INDUSTRY IS SAID TO BE ONE POTENTIAL TRAINING RESOURCE THAT OFTEN HAS BEEN OVERLOOKED. THE FREE VENTURE MODEL CALLS FOR EACH PRISON INDUSTRY TO BE DEVELOPED IN CONJUNCTION WITH AN INDUSTRY COUNCIL FROM THE COMMUNITY. THE PROCESS BEGINS WITH AN ECONOMIC STUDY, A MARKET STUDY, AND A STUDY OF CURRENT AND PROJECTED EMPLOYMENT NEEDS. EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING COMPARABLE TO THAT FOUND IN THE COMMUNITY ARE USED, AND OPEN, COMMUNITY-LIKE WORK CONDITIONS ARE ESTABLISHED. INMATES ARE EXPECTED TO PUNCH A TIMECARD, WORK A FULL DAY, AND ACCOUNT FOR THEIR ABSENCES. THEY EARN WAGES, PAY TAXES AND SOCIAL SECURITY, HAVE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, PAY ROOM AND BOARD, CONTRIBUTE TO THE MAINTENANCE OF THEIR FAMILIES, AND, SOMETIMES, MAKE RESTITUTION TO VICTIMS. THE POTENTIAL OF THE FREE VENTURE CONCEPT, PARTICULARLY WHEN APPLIED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE MUTUAL AGREEMENT CONCEPT (CONTRACTS BETWEEN PAROLEES AND CORRECTIONAL AGENCIES), IS DISCUSSED, AND POSSIBLE IMPLEMENTATION PROBLEMS ARE NOTED. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)