THE PROBLEMS OF THE PUERTO RICAN OFFENDER ARE PART OF A LARGER PROBLEM FACED BY MINORITY GROUPS AFTER IMMIGRATING TO THE UNITED STATES. OFTEN, THESE IMMIGRANTS ARE GREETED WITH ANTAGONISTIC AN STEROTYPED ATTITUTES WHICH ARE MAGNIFIED UPON ENTERING A PENAL INSTITUTION, BY NEGATIVE ATTITUDES TOWARD BOTH CRIMINAL OFFENDERS AND THE RACIAL OR ETHNIC MINORITY. GENERALLY, PROGRAMS TO SERVE MINORITIES OPERATE ON A STEREOTYPED BASIS AND FAIL TO APPRECIATE THE INMATES' REAL NEEDS. FINDINGS OF THIS IN-DEPTH PROFILE OF PUERTO RICAN PRISONERS INDICATE THAT PUERTO RICANS EXHIBIT AS MUCH DIVERSITY AS SAMENESS. THEIR MAJOR SIMILARITIES ARE SKIN COLOR, PREFERENCE FOR SPEAKING SPANISH (78 PERCENT), REASONS FOR COMING TO THE MAINLAND (75 PERCENT TO FIND EMPLOYMENT), AND THEIR ATTACHMENT TO THEIR HOMELAND. ALMOST ALL SUBJECTS (93 PERCENT) HAS NO CRIMINAL HISTORY IN PUERTO RICO AND FIRST BECAME ADDICTED TO DRUGS OR INVOLVED IN GANG ACTIVITY IN THE UNITED STATES. THEY ALSO SHOWED CLOSED FAMILY BONDS AND A SPONTANEOUS, RATHER THAN A STRUCTURED, SOCIAL ORGANIZATION. HOWEVER, MUCH DIVERSITY IN ATTITUDES WAS APPARENT DEPENDING ON AGE, LENGTH OF RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES, PLACE OF RESIDENCE, AND PREVIOUS CRIMINAL HISTORY. CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS NEED MORE SPANISH-SPEAKING PERSONS IN THE COURTS AND CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AS WELL AS LEGAL AID FOR HISPANICS. THOSE WORKING WITH PUERTO RICANS ALSO NEED TO APPRECIATE THEIR CULTURAL DIVERSITIES AS WELL AS THEIR SIMILARITIES. BOTH THE SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE AND EXTENSIVE REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)