THE INTENTION OF THE LAWS IS TO IMPROVE CORRECTIONS FACILITY RELATIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. ACTIVITIES OF THE PLOETZENSEE COUNCIL INCLUDED MEETINGS, PARTICIPATION IN FACILITY GROUP LEADER CONFERENCES, PRODUCTION OF AN INFORMATION LEAFLET FOR INMATES, INFORMATION VISITS TO LIVING GROUPS AND TO DRUG AND TUBERCULOSIS WARDS, INDIVIDUAL CONVERSATIONS WITH INMATES, AND CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE GOVERNMENT. PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY THE COUNCIL RELATE TO GENERAL PRISON CONDITIONS AND INMATE DISILLUSIONMENT WHEN THE PRISON MANAGEMENT REFUSED TO COOPERATE WITH THE LEGAL ORDER TO INVOLVE INMATES IN INSTITUTIONAL DECISIONS. INMATE GRIEVANCES INCLUDED OVERCROWDING, HEAVY WORK LOADS FOR DRUG-WARD PSYCHOLOGISTS, FACILITY DESIGN SHORTCOMINGS (E.G., A GYM WHICH IS UNUSABLE IN WINTER), INADEQUACY OF MEDICAL CARE, CURTAILMENT OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS, AND LACK OF FACILITIES FOR LEISURE ACTIVITIES. ASSESSMENT OF THE COUNCIL'S 2 YEARS OF WORK SUGGESTS THAT ITS FUNCTIONS WERE UNCLEAR AND CONTRADICTORY, THAT THE COUNCIL RECEIVED NO SUPPORT FROM THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OR THE PRISON ADMINISTRATION, AND THAT THE IMPOSSIBLE WAS EXPECTED OF COUNCIL MEMBERS. ONLY THE PRISONERS SOUGHT CONTACT WITH THE COUNCIL; GUARDS NEVER DID SO. AS A CONSEQUENCE, FOUR OF FIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE RESIGNED AND THE COUNCIL IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL. --IN GERMAN.