THERE IS NO SINGLE FACTOR THAT CAUSES THE INFORMATION OF AN INFORMAL INMATE SYSTEM, WHETHER IT IS HIGHLY OPPOSITIONAL AND NEGATIVISTIC OR RELATIVELY BENIGN AND RESPONSIVE TO THE PREFERENCES OF PRISON OFFICIALS. THE INMATE CODE REPRESENTS AN ORGANIZATION OF CRIMINAL VALUES IN CLEARCUT OPPOSITION TO THE VALUES OF CONVENTIONAL SOCIETY. THE CODE FORBIDS ANY SUPPORTIVE OR NONEXPLOITATIVE LIAISON WITH PRISON OFFICIALS, AND SEEKS TO CONFER STATUS ON THOSE INMATES WHO MOST CLEARLY OPPOSE THE ADMINISTRATION. A HIGH PREMIUM IS PLACED ON STRENGTH, ON EXPLOITATIVE SEX RELATIONS, PREDATORY ATTITUDES TOWARD MONEY AND PROPERTY, IN-GROUP LOYALTY AND SOLIDARITY, AND AGGRESSIVE AND EXPLOITATIVE RELATIONS WITH CONVENTIONALLY ORIENTED GROUPS. SUCCESSES, FAILURES, AND PROBLEMS ARE LINKED WITH A GREAT DEAL OF IMMEDIACY TO DAILY NEEDS AND DEMANDS. INMATES ADJUST TO CONFINEMENT IN WAYS NOT UNLIKE OTHER INDIVIDUALS ADJUST TO PROBLEMS IN THEIR SEEKING OF PEER SUPPORT THROUGH THE SUBCULTURE. THE QUALITATIVE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM AND FREE SOCIETY IS THAT THE COERCIVE QUALITY OF THE PRISON HAS LED SO MANY TO FOCUS ON PRISON ORGANIZATIONS AND THE PROBLEMS THEY PRESENT TO INMATES TO THE EXCLUSION OF THE MANY OTHER DETERMINANTS OF BEHAVIOR THAT ARE SO OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT IN OTHER SETTINGS. THIS EMPHASIS ON COERCIVE POWER TENDS TO NEGATE POSITIVE, EXTERNAL INFLUENCES WHICH CAN COME FROM THE COMMUNITY AND FROM THE PRISONER'S FAMILY AND REINFORCE PEER GROUP INFLUENCES THROUGH SUBCULTURE SUPPORT. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED IN THE SELECTION. (LWM)