After interviews with inmates and prison staff and administrators as well as onsite observation, the task force found inadequate health care and followup, as inmates charged that medical attention is not prompt, and there is a lack of timely or adequate followup. The use of medical interns also results in an inexperienced medical staff and a high turnover rate. Some inmates complained of forced drugging, including overmedication, especially with psychotropic drugs. Medical facilities and equipment were also found to be inadequate, particularly considering the institution's isolation, which requires a properly equipped ambulance to transport patients to hospitals some distance away. Occasional complaints were raised by inmates regarding educational and vocational opportunities, the lack of nutritional meals, and failure to meet the communication needs of non-English-speaking inmates. The institution's remoteness has created problems regarding visitation, particularly for children of inmates. Further, the lack of substantial minority representation in the surrounding community hinders the proportional employment of minorities on the correctional staff. A further reason for phasing out the Alderson facility is that a high percentage of the inmates require minimum security and could be safely and effectively handled in community-based programs. Data from the study are provided along with 24 footnotes.