A review of the literature, covering a variety of theories as to the causes of criminal behavior in young people and barriers to their rehabilitation, lays the groundwork for a report of an experimental program using the humanities to assist in the rehabilitation of young criminal offenders, at the State Correctional Institution at Camp Hill, Pa. The prison setting had a profound influence on the evolution of the program. Comparison with other inmates showed that the program was well received by most participants for whom significant changes were recorded on several of the psychological measures used. However followup surveys showed no differences in postprison behavior between participants and other inmates. This is also true of participants in other educational programs at the institution, raising the issues of punishment versus treatment and the role of education in a prison treatment program. The general conclusion is reached that the requirement that a prison confine inmates produces an inherently punishing environment that is antithetical to rehabilitative efforts. While it is unlikely that the humanities, or any other educational program will influence postprison behavior, such programs can serve to enrich the lives of inmates while they are in prison. (Author/SA)