WHILE SOME PROGRAMS AS INSTITUTIONAL NURSERIES FOR CHILDREN OF INMATE MOTHERS, CHILD CARE INSTRUCTION, AND MOTHERS' DISCUSSION GROUPS ARE HELPING IN SOME PRISONS TO ALLEVIATE INMATE MOTHERS' PARENTAL PROBLEMS, MOST OF THESE MOTHERS STILL FACE TREMENDOUS PROBLEMS UPON RELEASE FROM PRISON. A 1976 STUDY AT THE STATE PRISONS FOR WOMEN IN NEW YORK AND CONNECTICUT LOOKED AT THE HOME FURLOUGH VISITS OF 31 OF THE 46 INMATE MOTHERS WHO USED THE HOME FURLOUGH PROGRAM DURING THE 6-MONTH STUDY PERIOD. DATA ON THE 31 WOMEN WERE COLLECTED THROUGH INTERVIEWS AND INSTITUTIONAL CASE FOLDERS. FINDINGS SHOWED THAT THESE INMATE MOTHERS VIEWED THEIR HOME VISITS AS VACATIONS FROM INCARCERATION, RARELY UTILIZING THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASSERT PARENTAL RIGHTS OR TO PRACTICE PARENTING SKILLS. BECAUSE THEIR CHILDREN WERE INVARIABLY REPORTED TO BE RECEIVING GOOD CARE DURING THE MOTHERS' ABSENCE, THE INMATES SAW NO NEED TO DEAL WITH THE CHILDREN AND INSTEAD SOUGHT ENJOYMENT, NOT RESPONSIBILITY. CORRECTIONAL STAFF AND FAMILIES ALSO ENCOURAGED ENJOYMENT AND LITTLE SPECIFIC COUNSELING OR ENCOURAGEMENT WERE GIVEN TO INMATE MOTHERS TO ASSUME PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES. UNDER THESE CONDITIONS, HOME VISITS MAY SERVE TO MAINTAIN THE INMATE MOTHERS' TIES WITH FAMILY AND CHILDREN BUT ARE UNLIKELY TO AID IN THEIR PREPARATION FOR THE ASSUMPTION OF THEIR PARENTAL DUTIES. PERHAPS PREFURLOUGH AND POSTFURLOUGH INSTRUCTION AND COUNSELING WOULD BE BEST FOR BOTH MOTHERS AND CHILDREN. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED, AND TABLES ILLUSTRATE THE FINDINGS.