Excerpts from transcribed tape recordings of conversations between 2 reading specialists and 23 Hispanic inmates of the correctional institution reveal that many of these inmates believe that a lack of functional literacy was partly responsible for their present condition. Literacy, therefore, might be a valuable tool for preventing recidivism among these and similar inmates. Because traditional methods of reading instruction have not been successful with the student inmate, a new approach is necessary. One such approach is ESTRI, a mehtod of teaching decoding skills and vocabulary development. ESTRI teaches one systematic approach to word decoding and teaches no exceptions to the rules. It holds that word decoding is not a part of the reading process itself, since no one reads for the purpose of decoding words. ESTRI capitalizes on the listening abilities of learners and leads them to mastery of the decoding process, an essential adjunct to intelligent and independent reading. Through the use of this approach, inmates can develop the necessary reading skills for successfully meeting the demands of society. The report contains diagrams and 19 reference notes. (Author abstract modified).