INDIAN PRISONERS ARE THE MOST NEGLECTED GROUP OF AMERICANS IN THE COUNTRY TODAY. DESPITE THE FACT THAT INDIAN PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ARE STUDIED CONSTANTLY, INDIANS AND SPECIFICALLY INDIAN CONVICTS REMAIN AT THE BOTTOM OF ALL STATISTICAL CHARTS INCLUDING SOCIAL, HEALTH, AND EDUCATIONAL LEVEL INDICATORS. INDIANS CHARGED WITH FELONIES LACK FINANCIAL MEANS TO SECURE BAIL AND COMPETENT LEGAL COUNSEL. MOST FEEL THAT THE COMMUNITY IS HOSTILE TOWARD THEM, DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEX LEGAL SYSTEM, FREQUENTLY VIOLATE LAWS OF WHICH THEY ARE UNAWARE, AND FACE COMMUNICATIONS AND BIAS PROBLEMS ONCE INCARCERATED. THE DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF INDIAN ARRESTS AND SENTENCES ATTEST TO THESE FACTS. RESPONSES BY THE BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS AND OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES TO THEIR NEEDS HAVE FAILED. ONE SUCCESSFUL APPROACH TO THE PROBLEMS OF THE INCARCERATED AMERICAN INDIAN RESULTED FROM THE EFFORTS OF A CALIFORNIA BUSINESSMAN WHO INITIATED A MONTHLY VISITATION PROGRAM FOR THE INDIANS OF SAN QUENTIN DURING THE 1960'S. THE CONCEPT EXPANDED INTO A STABLE, DEPENDABLE RESOURCE, CHARACTERIZED BY INMATE PARTICIPATION IN INSTITUTIONAL PROGRAMS, DISCUSSION GROUPS, CULTURAL EXCHANGES WITH FELLOW INMATES, AND PREPARATION OF A 'JOINT STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES OF COOPERATION' BY THE BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS AND THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. DISCIPLINARY PROBLEMS EASED AS INMATES BECAME INVOLVED IN WORK DETAILS, SHOP, TRAINING, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL FORMAL CLASS WAS PROVIDED IN AMERICAN INDIAN CULTURE AND HISTORY. UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE OF VIOLENCE AT SAN QUENTIN IN 1973, CLASSES WERE DISCONTINUED AND LITTLE OF THE ORIGINAL PROGRAM REMAINS. CHANGES CAUSED BY THE PROGRAM, HOWEVER, WERE UNDENIABLY PROMISING AND SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED THROUGH DEVELOPMENT OF SIMILAR PROGRAMS IN INSTITUTIONS WITH LARGE AMERICAN INDIAN POPULATIONS. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (LWM)