Violence in American prisons is characterized, and the influence of public and professional attitudes on prison violence is considered. Further, the negative effects of punishment, including its suppression of independent behavior and its encouragement of counteraggression, are described. The consequences of modern corrections' undue emphasis on prisoner obedience is examined, and the importance of teaching inmates productive discipline is emphasized. Five case examples provide a model for understanding, responding to, and possibly preventing several varieties of prison violence. Additionally, the cases present the different perspectives of the constituent groups that comprise typical prison environments (for example, inmates, correctional officers, correctional counselors, and correctional administrators). Finally, the problems in the case studies illustrate that decisions regarding prison violence involve interpersonal skills, ethical and professional judgments, and time/resource constraints which can be enhanced through experiential learning. Questions for discussion follow each case study, and 21 references are listed.