WHEN THE FIRST SOCIAL THERAPEUTIC INSTITUTION (IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 65 OF THE WEST GERMAN CRIMINAL CODE AND ARTICLE 9 OF THE CORRECTIONAL CODE) OPENED IN DUEREN IN 1971, AN EMPIRICAL STUDY WAS UNDERTAKEN EXPLORING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION. THE STUDY WAS BASED ON OBSERVATIONS, PERSONNEL INTERVIEWS, AND ANALYSIS OF INSTITUTIONAL DOCUMENTS AND FOCUSED ON GOALS, AUTHORITY AND MANAGEMENT STRUCTURES, AND COMMUNICATION STRUCTURES IN THE INSTITUTION. OVER THE 16-MONTHS PERIOD OF STUDY, THE INSTITUTION CHANGED FROM A PRIMARILY TREATMENT-ORIENTED FACILITY TO A MORE SECURITY-ORIENTED CONCEPT. IN VIEW OF THIS FACT, THE FOLLOWING OBSERVATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE. THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE INTEGRATION OF THE TREATMENT FACILITY INTO AN ORDINARY CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION POSES A SEVERE THREAT TO THERAPY AND SHOULD BE OPPOSED. THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE TREATMENT FACILITY AND OFFICIAL CORRECTIONAL ORGANIZATIONS (INCLUDING THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE) WERE CHARACTERIZED BY ANTAGONISM AND FALSE EXPECTATIONS FROM THE BEGINNING; A MEDIATING COUNCIL IS RECOMMENDED TO FURTHER UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN CORRECTIONAL AGENCIES. EFFECTIVE REHABILITATION REQUIRES THE SUPPORT OF LOCAL AGENCIES SUCH AS CHURCH GROUPS, THE PRESS, AND CITIZEN ORGANIZATIONS. DESPITE THE PROFESSED COMMON GOALS, THE VARIOUS GROUPS AT THE INSTITUTION HELD RADICALLY DIFFERENT VIEWS; THE FORMATION OF FACTIONS WAS ENCOURAGED BY THE DIFFERENT PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUNDS OF THE STAFF MAMBERS (E.G., CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS, SOCIAL WORKERS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, LEGAL EXPERTS) AND RESULTED ULTIMATELY IN THE EMPHASIS ON SECURITY RATHER THAN TREATMENT. HERE AGAIN AGENCIES PROMOTING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE GROUPS ARE REQUIRED. THE ARTICLE INCLUDES BIBLIOGRAPHICAL FOOTNOTES AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY. --IN GERMAN.