THE COMMISSION CONCLUDED THAT ONE OF THE CAUSES OF THE RIOT AT ATTICA WAS TENSION BETWEEN URBAN, ACTIVIST MINORITY GROUP INMATES, AND THE PREDOMINANTLY WHITE, RURAL CORRECTIONAL STAFF. NO EVIDENCE OF A PLANNED UPRISING WAS FOUND, EITHER BY AVOWED REVOLUTIONARIES OR ANYONE ELSE. IT IS HYPOTHESIZED THAT THE NEGOTIATIONS FAILED FOR SEVERAL REASONS - THE OBSERVER COMMITTEE WAS TOO UNWIELDY IN NUMBER AND RACKED WITH IDEOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES, THE INMATES WERE INTRANSIGENT IN THEIR DEMAND FOR AMNESTY, AND MANY INMATES FEARED THAT THE STATE'S PROMISES WOULD BE ABROGATED AFTER THE RELEASE OF THE HOSTAGES. THE COMMISSION ALSO CONCLUDED THAT EXCESS FORCE WAS USED IN THE ASSAULT BY THE STATE POLICE AND THE SUBSEQUENT RESTORATION OF PRISON AUTHORITY. FOR THE TEXT OF THE OFFICIAL COMMISSION REPORT, SEE NCJ-007357.