THE CALIFORNIA MEDICAL FACILITY SCREENS AND DIAGNOSES NEW PRISONERS AND CHANNELS THEM INTO APPROPRIATE INSTITUTIONS. IT RECEIVES PRISONERS WHO HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED AS PSYCHOLOGICAL OF PSYCHIATRIC CASES BY OTHER INSTITUTIONS. THE FACILITY ALSO CONTAINS SPECIALIZED UNITS, WHICH CONDUCT SUCH PROGRAMS AS BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION, DRUG THERAPY, AND GENERAL MEDICINE. THE PRISON PRODUCES REPORTS ON THE STATUS OF PRISONERS AND THEIR READINESS FOR PAROLE OR FOR OTHER TREATMENT PROGRAMS. THE RESEARCH ON WHICH THE DISCUSSION IS BASED WAS DONE IN THE EARLY 1970'S AND CONSISTED OF A SURVEY OF HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS, INTERVIEWS WITH PRISONERS AND STAFF, AND OBSERVATIONS. SPECIAL ATTENTION WAS GIVEN TO THE 300-BED UNIT RESERVED FOR PSYCHOTIC PRISONERS. THE DISCUSSION COVERS IN DETAIL THE FUNCTIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF CORRECTIONAL PSYCHIATRISTS, THE USE OF PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS FOR PRISONERS, THE POLITICS OF PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT IN THE PRISONS, AND THE ROLE OF DRUGS IN CORRECTIONAL PSYCHIATRIC IDEOLOGY AND PRACTICE. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE 'CLASS OUTLOOK AND PRACTICE' OF PRISON PSYCHIATRISTS ARE FUNDAMENTALLY ANTAGONISTIC TO PRISONERS. IT IS FURTHER SUGGESTED THAT THE MEDICAL-PSYCHIATRIC PRISON IS A MORE PROFOUND MODE OF PUNISHMENT THAN THE TYPICAL MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON BECAUSE THE FORMER CONDUCTS PRACTICES UNDER THE GUISE OF PROFESSIONALISM.