THE GENERAL PURPOSE OF SOCIAL WORK IN CORRECTIONS--HELPING TO ALLEVIATE INMATES' SENSE OF ISOLATION BY PROMOTING CONTACTS WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD--IS NOTED, AS IS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE INTERVIEW AS THE SOCIAL WORKER'S PRIMARY TECHNIQUE FOR LEARNING ABOUT INMATES' PERSONAL AND FAMILY PROBLEMS. SOCIAL WORK'S BROAD ROLE IN THE PREVENTION OF CRIME IS OBSERVED, AND THE MORE SPECIFIC ROLES OF DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, AND PRERELEASE ASSISTANCE FOR INMATES ARE DISCUSSED. THE FOLLOWING SOCIAL WORK FUNCTIONS ARE DESCRIBED: ADMISSION STUDIES (BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS OF NEWLY ADMITTED INMATES); SOCIOECONOMIC STUDIES (MORE INDEPTH INVESTIGATIONS OF INMATES' FAMILY AND PERSONAL SITUATIONS AND ADJUSTMENT TO PRISON); VISITS TO INMATES' HOMES, DURING WHICH SOCIAL WORKERS ENCOURAGE FAMILIES TO VISIT INMATES; INTERVIEWS AT THE REQUEST OF INMATES AND THEIR FAMILIES; ASSISTANCE DURING INMATE VISITS TO THEIR HOMES OR TO OTHER INSTITUTIONS; CERTAIN QUASI-LEGAL FUNCTIONS (E.G., ASSISTANCE IN PROCURING BAIL OR IN DEALING WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES); PRERELEASE PLANNING; COORDINATION OF INMATES' SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES; AND ORGANIZATION OF CONJUGAL AND FAMILY VISIT PROGRAMS. IT IS NOTED THAT ONE OF THE SOCIAL WORKER'S RESPONSIBILITIES IS TO GUARD AGAINST THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE INMATE'S VICTIM WILL SEEK REVENGE WHEN THE INMATE IS RELEASED FROM PRISON. (LKM) --IN SPANISH.