ABUSES OF BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION TECHNIQUES RANGING FROM THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE DRUG ANECTINE AT CALIFORNIA'S ATASCADERO STATE MENTAL HOSPITAL FOR THE CRIMINALLY INSANE TO SADISTIC ELECTRIC SHOCK 'TREATMENTS' AND KAFKAESQUE BRAINWASHING TECHNIQUES ARE NOT ONLY TRAGICALLY COMMON, THEY ARE OFTEN JUSTIFIED BY NOTED PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSORS AND WORKERS IN THE PRISON SYSTEM. THE ADMINISTRATION OF ANECTINE, A DRUG WHICH PARALYZES THE ENTIRE NERVOUS SYSTEM, WAS OUTLAWED IN VIETNAM AS A WAR CRIME. YET AT THE ATASCADERO STATE MENTAL HOSPITAL IT WAS ADMINISTERED AS A 'THERAPEUTIC AGENT' TO THOSE THE STAFF FOUND OFFENSIVE, INCLUDING HOMOSEXUALS, BLACK MILITANTS, AND HALLUCINATING SCHIZOPHRENICS. TWO YOUNG PSYCHIATRIC WORKERS ASKED THE AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION TO INVESTIGATE THE USE OF ANECTINE; THE ASSOCIATION FOUND THAT NO UNETHICAL BEHAVIOR HAD OCCURRED. OTHER DRUGS IN COMMON USE IN PRISONS, SUCH AS LIBRIUM AND THORAZINE, HAVE LONG-LASTING SIDE EFFECTS, INCLUDING A STATE RESEMBLING CATATONIA AND A PSEUDO-PARKINSONIAN SYNDROME THAT MAY BE IRREVERSIBLE. A PLEA WRITTEN BY A GROUP OF INMATES AT THE CALIFORNIA MEN'S COLONY WENT TO THE CALIFORNIA SENATE COMMITTEE ON PENAL INSTITUTIONS PROTESTING USE OF THESE TRANQUILIZERS. THE PROGRAMS WHICH USE POSITIVE REWARDS, SUCH AS TOKEN ECONOMIES, SEEM TO DO LITTLE HARM, BUT SEEM TO DO LITTLE GOOD EITHER. PARTICIPANTS LEARN TO 'BEAT THE SYSTEM' WITHOUT ANY UNDERLYING CHANGE. THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION HAS ALREADY FILED SUITS AGAINST INSTITUTIONS USING ELECTROCONVULSIVE SHOCK TREATMENTS AND PSYCHOSURGERY (OPERATING ON THE BRAIN WITH INTENT TO CHANGE BEHAVIOR). A MICHIGAN COURT BLOCKED SUCH AN OPERATION ON A VIOLENT INMATE EVEN THOUGH HE HAD SIGNED A CONSENT FORM; THE COURT DECIDED TRULY VOLUNTARY CONSENT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR THOSE LOCKED IN PRISONS. GROUP THERAPY SESSIONS DESIGNED TO WEAR DOWN A 'PATIENT'S' PSYCHOLOGICAL DEFENSES, SOLITARY CONFINEMENT CELLS WITHOUT ANY STIMULATION, AND A VARIETY OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TECHNIQUES ARE OFTEN THE SOURCE OF ABUSE, WHETHER ADMINISTERED BY QUALIFIED PSYCHIATRISTS OR A SLIGHTLY-TRAINED TECHNICIAN ON THE PRISON STAFF. BEHAVIORISTS HAVE UNBOUNDED FAITH IN BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION SYSTEMS. A FEW CRIMINOLOGISTS, HOWEVER, HAVE OBSERVED THAT THE USE OF OFFICIAL TERROR IN PRISONS IS SPAWNING TERRORISTS, ANGRY INMATES UNITED AGAINST THE AUTHORITIES RESPONSIBLE. MOST OF THE SUBJECTS OF BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION PROGRAMS ARE YOUNG BLACKS, WHO ARE IN PRISON FOR PROPERTY CRIMES BUT WHO, ONCE THERE, BECOME POLITICIZED AND DIFFICULT TO HANDLE. THE SYMBIONESE LIBERATION ARMY WAS SPAWNED BY ESCAPEES FROM THE TREATMENT CENTER AT VACAVILLE, CALIFORNIA. SUCH CENTERS ARE GOING TO TURN OUT MORE VERY ANGRY, VERY IDEOLOGICAL OFFENDERS. (GLR)