THE STUDY FOCUSES ON THE ATTITUDINAL CHANGES ATTRIBUTABLE TO PARTICIPATION IN AN INMATE SELF-GOVERNMENT PROGRAM INITIATED IN 1971 AT THE MAXIMUM SECURITY PENITENTIARY IN WALLA WALLA, WASH. THE PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO GIVE INMATES ACTUAL POLICYMAKING RESPONSIBILITIES THROUGH A SYSTEM OF COLLABORATIVE MANAGEMENT. THE PRINCIPAL COMPONENT OF SELF-GOVERNMENT WAS AN INMATE-ELECTED 11-MEMBER COUNCIL RESPONSIBLE FOR FORMULATING POLICY OBJECTIVES AND FOR COORDINATING INMATE PARTICIPATION. A PRETEST-POSTTEST DESIGN WAS USED TO EVALUATE THE PROGRAM'S EFFECTS ON A STRATIFIED RANDOM SAMPLE OF 173 MALE INMATES. EVALUATION DATA REVEAL THAT PARTICIPATION CONSISTENTLY FOSTERED A MORE POSITIVE SENSE OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AMONG INMATES, WHEREAS THE ATTITUDES ASSOCIATED WITH SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (PARTICULARLY ACCEPTANCE OF LAW AND AUTHORITY) DETERIORATED CONSISTENTLY AMONG INMATES WHO DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN SELF-GOVERNMENT. SUPPORTING DATA, STUDY INSTRUMENTS, AND A LIST OF REFERNCES ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)