This documentary examines conditions faced by US prisoners in the early 70s, conditions that have remained virtually unchanged until today. Shot inside men's maximum-security prisons in Trenton and Rahway, New Jersey, this film was done with the support and active participation of inmates. It provides views of how prisoners perceive the "inside" and the effectiveness of such programs as adult education and rehabilitation. Prisoners discuss the work demanded of them and the virtual slave wages they receive.