THE AUTHORS IDENTIFY THE FOUR MANIFEST FUNCTIONS OF PRISONS AS REFORMATION, INCAPACITATION, RETRIBUTION, AND DETERRENCE. ELEVEN LARGELY UNINTENDED AND GENERALLY UNRECOGNIZED FUNCTIONS ARE ALSO DISCUSSED. THESE LATENT FUNTIONS INCLUDE MAINTENANCE OF A CRIME SCHOOL, POLITICIZATION, SELF-ENHANCEMENT, JOB PROVISION, SATISFACTION OF AUTHORITARIAN NEEDS, SLAVE LABOR, REDUCTION OF UNEMPLOYMENT RATES, SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, CONVENIENT THEATER OF OPERATIONS FOR VOLUNTEERS, SAFETY VALVE FOR RACIAL TENSIONS, AND A FORM OF BIRTH CONTROL. THESE LATENT FUNCTIONS ARE CITED AS THE CAUSE FOR PERPETUATING THE PRISON SYSTEM.