THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONCEPT WHICH LED TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FLORIDA RECEPTION AND MEDICAL CENTER IN 1968 IS DESCRIBED. IT IS REPORTED TO BE THE FIRST STATE RECEPTION-DIAGNOSTIC UNIT IN THE NATION TO EMPLOY TREATMENT TEAMS. IT IS ONE OF THE FEW RECEPTION-DIAGNOSTIC FACILITIES IN THE COUNTRY WHICH IS ADMINISTRATIVELY AS WELL AS GEOGRAPHICALLY SEPARATE FROM ANY OTHER CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. FOUR DORMITORIES HOUSE 384 INMATES, WITH A MAXIMUM SECURITY CELL BLOCK ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE 136 INMATES. EXCELLENT RECREATIONAL FACILITIES ARE PROVIDED. A TOTAL OF SIX TEAMS OPERATE AT THE CENTER, NOT INCLUDING THE SPECIAL TEAM WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PERMANENT COMPLEMENT OF INMATES. EACH TEAM CONSISTS OF A CLASSIFICATION OFFICER, A MEMBER OF THE CUSTODIAL SERVICE CALLED A CORRECTIONAL COUNSELOR, AND ONE OR TWO CLINICAL STAFF MEMBERS. INMATES ARE ADVISED THAT THE OFFICER ASSIGNED TO THEIR TEAM AS A CORRECTIONAL COUNSELOR IS TO GUIDE AND COUNSEL THEM IN ALL MATTERS. ADVANTAGES OF THE TEAM OPERATION ARE DISCUSSED IN DETAIL UNDER THE GENERAL TOPICS OF IMPROVED PARTICIPATION AND COMMUNICATIONS. SOME PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED INCLUDE THE NEED FOR INCREASED TRAINING OF STAFF MEMBERS PRIOR TO THEIR FUNCTIONING IN THE JOB, PRESENTING THE PROBLEM OF SLOW EXPANSION OF TEAMS AND PERSONNEL REPLACEMENT. OTHER PROBLEMS CENTERED AROUND THE NEW POSITION OF CORRECTIONAL COUNSELOR WITH A DUAL ROLE OF BOTH CUSTODIAL AND TREATMENT FUNCTIONS. CUSTODIAL NEEDS TEND TO CONFLICT FREQUENTLY WITH TREATMENT RESPONSIBILITIES WITH REGARD TO TIME USE, AND THE LACK OF CAREER ADVANCEMENT IN THE TREATMENT DIMENSION OF THE CORRECTIONAL COUNSELOR'S WORK HAS LED TO FREQUENT TURNOVERS IN THIS POSITION AS PERSONNEL HAVE SOUGHT PROMOTIONS IN THE CUSTODIAL DIMENSION OF THEIR WORK. ALSO SEE NCJ 32007 (RCB)