RELIGIOUS ACTIVISM IS PARTLY CREDITED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRISONS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO CAPITAL AND CORPORAL PUNISHMENT. THE EXPOSURE OF ACTIVIST BELIEVERS TO PRISON CONDITIONS RESULTED FROM THE JAILING OF PACIFISTS WHO REFUSED TO DO MILITARY SERVICE. EVANGELICAL CLERGYMEN PRACTICED VISITATION IN PRISONS TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL THERE. THE QUAKERS WERE THE FIRST TO MOVE FROM VISITATION AND MINISTRY TO ACTIVISM WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE. THIS COMMITTEE ORGANIZED A PRISONER SELF-HELP GROUP AT SAN QUENTIN IN 1955, AND LATER FOUNDED A COMMUNITY-BASED CENTER FOR PRISONER SUPPORT AND PRISON REFORM. FOLLOWING THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND URBAN RIOTS OF THE 1960'S, THE VIETNAM RESISTERS, AND FINALLY THE ATTICA RIOTS, AFFLUENT, WHITE, MIDDLE-CLASS CONGREGATIONS BECAME AWARE OF THE HORRORS BEHIND BARS. ALL THE DIFFERENT CHURCH GROUPS INVOLVED IN PRISON REFORM SHARE A COMMON OPPOSITION TO IMPRISONMENT. THEY RALLY FOR INCREASED USE OF PROBATION AND FINES, HOUSING OF ALL OFFENDERS IN SMALL, WELL-STAFFED RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES INSTEAD OF PRISONS, OR RELEASE OF PRISONERS INTO COMMUNITY FACILITIES. OFFICIAL PROTESTANT AND ROMAN CATHOLIC INVOLVEMENT RARELY GOES BEYOND PRONOUNCEMENTS, WHILE SMALLER DENOMINATIONS SUCH AS THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN AND THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST HAVE TASK GROUPS WORKING ON ACTIVE PROJECTS AND CAMPAIGNS. THE SOUTHERN COALITION ON JAILS AND PRISONS IS CURRENTLY THE MOST RADICAL GRASSROOTS PRISON REFORM MOVEMENT IN THE COUNTRY. ILLUSTRATIONS ARE INCLUDED. (MRK)