That imprisonment rates in the United States have risen dramatically over the past decade is noted: in 1970, the average incarceration rate for State and local jails was 167 inmates per 100,000 civilian population; by 1978, this rate had risen to 195 per 100,000. Further, by the end of 1981, 36 States and territories were under court order or were involved in litigation likely to result in court orders regarding prison crowding. Studies indicating that violence increases with increasing population density in correctional institutions are reported, relations between prison crowding and hypertension are discussed, and the increase in prison death rates as prisons exceed capacity is described. The importance of efforts to end the stalemate between the courts and the correctional administrators concerning the problem is cited. Issues involved in prison crowding are identified, including increases in crime, changes in demography and in the criminal justice system, and growth of the criminal justice system. Four approaches to remedying the problem of overcrowding are explored: (1) reducing admissions to the prison system, (2) accelerating releases, (3) building more prisons, and (4) tolerating the status quo. Consideration of each of these strategies is considered essential to rational, long-term correctional planning. Seventy-two references are included.