AFTER THE OLYMPIC COMPETITION IS OVER, THE LAKE PLACID OLYMPIC VILLAGE IS SCHEDULED TO BECOME A MEDIUM-SECURITY PRISON FOR 500 YOUNG OFFENDERS, MOST OF WHOM WILL BE BLACK. CRITICS OF THIS PLAN POINT TO ITS POTENTIAL DIPLOMATIC REPERCUSSIONS AND ARE CRITICAL OF THE MANNER IN WHICH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH PROVIDED MUCH OF THE FUNDING FOR THE OLYMPIC FACILITIES, HANDLED THE MATTER. FOR INSTANCE, THE FACT THAT THE PRIMARY USE OF THE FACILITY IS ATHLETE HOUSING ENABLED THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS TO EXPEDITE ITS CONSTRUCTION PLANS AT LAKE PLACID WITHOUT RESORTING TO THE USUAL REVIEW PROCESS REQUIRED FOR NEW PRISON CONSTRUCTION. THE LAKE PLACID SITE VIOLATES THE BUREAU'S OWN POLICY THAT PRISONS SHOULD BE BUILT IN OR NEAR MAJOR METROPOLITAN CENTERS SO THAT PRISONERS CAN MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. LAKE PLACID RESIDENTS HAVE COMPLAINED THAT THEY WERE NOT CONSULTED ABOUT PLANS TO BUILD A PRISON IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. NO PUBLIC HEARINGS WERE CONDUCTED ON THE MATTER. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN COMPLAINTS THAT THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR WHO WAS RETAINED BY THE BUREAU (WITHOUT COMPETITIVE BIDDING) TO CONSTRUCT THE LAKE PLACID FACILITY HAS IGNORED THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE AGENCY THAT OVERSEES THE USE OF PRIVATE LAND IN THE ADIRONDACKS AND HAS CUT DOWN TOO MANY TREES, DAMAGED TRIBUTARIES, AND DRIVEN WILDLIFE FROM THE VICINITY. BEYOND THE QUESTIONABLE WISDOM OF MIXING FEDERAL PRISON POLICY WITH THE OLYMPICS, THE LAKE PLACID DEVELOPMENT ILLUSTRATES HOW NEW PRISON CONSTRUCTION CAN PROCEED WITHOUT SUFFICIENT REGARD TO LEGAL, POLITICAL, AND SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES. (LKM)