THE MISSION OF UNICOR (FORMERLY FEDERAL PRISON INDUSTRIES, INC.) IS TO EMPLOY AND TRAIN FEDERAL INMATES THROUGH A DIVERSIFIED PROGRAM PROVIDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES TO OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES. EMPLOYMENT PROVIDES INMATES WITH WORK, OCCUPATIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS, EXTRA 'GOOD TIME,' AND MONEY FOR PERSONAL EXPENSES AND FAMILY ASSISTANCE. UNICOR IS ENTIRELY SELF-SUSTAINING; REVENUES ARE DERIVED FROM THE SALE OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES TO OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES, PARTICULARLY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE, AND THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION. A BOARD OF SIX DIRECTORS APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT, AND SERVING WITHOUT COMPENSATION, ESTABLISHES THE BROAD POLICIES OF UNICOR. THE DUTIES OF EACH OFFICER AND DIVISION MANAGER ARE NOTED. MORE THAN 6,500 INMATES WORK DAILY IN 35 INSTITUTIONS MANUFACTURING A WIDE VARIETY OF PRODUCTS AND PROVIDING A NUMBER OF SERVICES. INMATES ARE COMPENSATED WITH GRATUITIES RANGING FROM 32 CENTS TO 80 CENTS AN HOUR. CURRENT UNICOR OPERATIONS ARE COMPARABLE TECHNICALLY WITH OUTSIDE INDUSTRIES, WITH A LIMITED NUMBER OF PRODUCTION TRAINING UNITS SET UP TO COMBINE FORMAL TRAINING WITH APPLICATION OF NEWLY LEARNED SKILLS. GUIDING UNICOR'S PLANNING IS RECRUITING AND PLACING INMATES ON INDUSTRIES' JOBS ARE THE (1) RECOGNITION OF INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES AMONG INMATES, (2) THE VALUE OF REALISTIC WORK EXPERIENCE, (3) THE NEED TO REDUCE IDLENESS, (4) THE OPERATIONAL LIMITS IMPOSED BY STATUTE AND CORRECTIONAL ENVIRONMENT, AND (5) THE NATURE OF SKILLS. THE FLEXIBILITY OF UNICOR IN MEETING FLUCTUATING PRISON POPULATIONS AND SOME FUTURE TRENDS ARE NOTED. THE TEXT IS ILLUSTRATED WITH PHOTOGRAPHS AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTS. (WJR)