FOUR CHARACTERISTICS OF CORRECTIONAL TREATMENT FACILITIES ARE IDENTIFIED AND DISCUSSED AS FOLLOWS: (1) THE TREATMENT GOAL IS PARAMOUNT, WITH ALL PHASES OF INSTITUTIONAL LIFE DIRECTED TOWARD BEHAVIORAL CHANGE IN INMATES; (2) INMATES ARE VIEWED AS DEBILITATED PERSONS WHO CANNOT ADEQUATELY PERFORM CONVENTIONAL ROLES IN SOCIETY AND THUS NEED HELP IN LEARNING SUCH ROLES; (3) ADMINISTRATORS ARE TREATMENT SPECIALISTS; AND (4) CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS ARE EXPECTED TO ACT AS IMPLEMENTERS OF TREATMENT GOALS IN INTERACTION WITH INMATES. AFTER DISCUSSING EACH OF THESE CHARACTERISTICS, SPECIAL ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO THE ROLE CONFLICT THAT BEFALLS CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS AS A RESULT OF AN EMPHASIS ON THEIR TREATMENT ROLE WHILE THEY ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO MAINTAIN ORDER AND SECURITY WITHIN THE INSTITUTION. IT IS BELIEVED THAT EVEN THOSE GUARDS WHO PERCEIVE THEMSELVES AS TREATMENT-ORIENTED MUST ACCOMMODATE THEMSELVES TO THE CONTROL AND CUSTODIAL FUNCTIONS EXPECTED OF THEM BY ADMINISTRATORS. BECAUSE GUARD PERFORMANCE IN CUSTODIAL FUNCTIONS IS MORE EASILY MEASURED AND OBSERVED THAN IS THE CASE WITH TREATMENT FUNCTIONS, THE ROLE CONFLICT IS MOST OFTEN RESOLVED THROUGH CONCENTRATION ON FUNCTIONS WHERE SUCCESS IS MOST EASILY MEASURED--SECURITY FUNCTIONS. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (RCB)