Prisons and prisoners

Inmates oi State prisons are predominantly poor young adult males with less than a high school education. Prison is not a new experience ior them; they have been incarcerated before, many first as juveniles. 'IlIe offense that brought them to prison was a violent crime or a bUl'glary. On the average, they have already served I 1/2 years on a maximum sentence of 8 1/2 years. Along with a criminal history, they have 11 history of drug abuse and are also likely to have a history of alcohol abuse. They are typically housed in a maximum or medium security pI'bon where they are likely to be sharin~ their living space with at least one other person.