The problem is outside: staff and client behavior as a function of external events.

Data collected in the process of studying the development and functioning of a prerelease program for adjudicated adult offenders provided the opportunity to test the hypothesis that the actions of a parent organization influence the "within' program behaviors of clients and rehabilitation staff. It is demonstrated that changes in the parent organization's behavior toward the program were accompanied by changes in (a) the staff's perceptions of clients, (b) the staff's actions towards clients, (c) client attitudes, and (d) client behaviors. Discussion focuses on the need to view rehabilitative programs as continually influenced by external and extrinisic factors.