THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE PRISON VIOLENCE PROBLEM IS EXHIBITED IN THE INCREASE IN THE USE OF ADMINISTRATIVE SEGREGATION AND IN PROTECTIVE CUSTODY UNIT POPULATIONS. PRISON OFFICIALS HAVE INCREASINGLY BEEN ADOPTING A POLICY THAT REQUIRES APPLICANTS FOR PROTECTION TO JUSTIFY THEIR REQUESTS BY NAMING THE PERSONS WHO PRESENT A THREAT TO THEM AND EXPLAINING THE SITUATION THAT CAUSED THE THREAT. THE INTEREST OF THE ACADEMY FOR CONTEMPORARY PROBLEMS IN CRIME AND JUSTICE BEGAN WITH THE CONCERN TO REDUCE THE USE OF INCARCERATION AS A RESPONSE TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES. THE ACADEMY BELIEVES THAT THE USE OF PRISONS SHOULD BE LIMITED TO THE CONFINEMENT OF DANGEROUS OFFENDERS FOR THE PROTECTION OF SOCIETY, BUT NO AGREEMENT ON A STRICT DEFINITION OF DANGEROUS HAS BEEN ACHIEVED. A DANGEROUS OFFENDER PROJECT WAS INITIATED BY THE ACADEMY. DATA WERE OBTAINED ON PRISONERS HELD IN SEGREGATED FACILITIES IN WASHINGTON, IDAHO, MINNESOTA, TEXAS, AND SOUTH CAROLINA. THE PROJECT ALSO HAD ACCESS TO DATA FROM CALIFORNIA, ILLINOIS, AND OHIO. THE FINDINGS OF THE PROJECT ARE ANALYZED IN RELATION TO CHANGING MANAGEMENT MODELS AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON PRISON DISCIPLINE, CHANGING SENTENCING PATTERNS AND POLICIES, INFLUENCES FROM THE STREET, DUE PROCESS AND CIVIL LIBERTY, CONTRAST IN THE MANAGEMENT OF VIOLENT PRISONERS (WASHINGTON, TEXAS AND CALIFORNIA), RESEARCH (WASHINGTON AND TEXAS), AVAILABLE REMEDIES (FULL EMPLOYMENT, SMALLER UNITS, MORE AND BETTER TRAINED STAFF, THE USE OF OUTSIDE INFLUENCES, INCENTIVES AND DISINCENTIVES, CLASSIFICATION, AND MEDICAL MANAGEMENT), AND THE LAWFUL PRISON. SUPPORTING DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (DEP)