THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS' POSITION ON PRISONER WORK PROGRAMS IS ANALYZED (I.E., THAT PRODUCTIVE WORK CAN HELP ACCELERATE PRISONERS' SOCIAL REINTEGRATION) AND THE MAJOR PROBLEMS INVOLVED IN PROVIDING EXPANDED WORK AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES ARE IDENTIFIED AND DISCUSSED, ALONG WITH EXISTING EFFORTS IN OTHER STATES TO UPGRADE WORK PROGRAMS. EXISTING STANDARDS FOR CORRECTIONS WORK PROGRAMMING ARE ALSO OUTLINED, ALONG WITH CURRENT CORRECTIONAL INDUSTRIES PROGRAMS. IN SUPPORT OF THE CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT'S POSITION ON WORK PROGRAMS THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EXPANSION AND UPGRADING ARE PROVIDED: (1) PENAL CODE SECTION 2709, WHICH PROVIDES THAT ALL ARTICLES, MATERIALS, AND SUPPLIES PRODUCED OR MANUFACTURED BY INMATE LABOR MUST BE SOLELY FOR PUBLIC USE, IS A ROADBLOCK TO EXPANSION AND SHOULD BE REPEALED; (2) EXPANSION AND DIVERSIFICATION OF INDUSTRIAL AND AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS SHOULD UTILIZE THE FREE VENTURE MODEL; (3) INMATE WORKERS SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR THEIR LABOR AT THE PREVAILING MARKET WAGES RATES; (4) THE ASSIGNMENT PROCESS SHOULD BE REVAMPED TO ALLOW FOR DIRECT HIRING AND FIRING OF WORKERS BY WORK SUPERVISORS; AND (5) STEPS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO UPGRADE THE PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT CAPABILITIES OF THE CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT IN THE AREA OF WORK PROGRAMS. BASED ON AN ANALYSIS OF THE PROBLEM OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING IN THE STATE'S CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS, IT IS CONCLUDED THAT A SHARP DISTINCTION SHOULD BE DRAWN BETWEEN TWO TYPES OF TRAINING: (1) TRAINING TO ENHANCE THE SKILLS OF INMATE WORKERS TO MEET STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE AND PRODUCTION FOR WORK OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE INSTITUTION; AND (2) TRAINING TO PREPARE PRISONERS FOR JOBS AVAILABLE WHEN THEY ARE RELEASED. IN THE FIRST CASE, EFFORTS SHOULD BE GEARED TO PROVIDING SHORT COURSES OR TRAINING MODULES DIRECTLY RELATED TO PRISON WORK ACTIVITIES. HOWEVER, IN THE SECOND CASE, IT FELT THAT JOB TRAINING FOR WORK OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMMUNITY CAN BEST TAKE PLACE IN A COMMUNITY SETTING. RELATED CORRECTIONS STANDARDS OF THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDARDS AND GOALS ARE APPENDED. TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (KBL)