Noting that Holland's penal system is probably the most expensive, Gitchoff upholds the tradition of liberal and humane treatment of offenders. Sentences are generally not lengthy and community service is often an available option. The author warns that public demand for more restrictive and punitive measures, such as found in the U.S., may not reduce crime. In the accompanying "Imprisonment in Holland: Some Comments," Buikhuisen suggests that Gitchoff is ignoring society's pressures for a solution to the problem of increasing crime. Gitchoff's response emphasizes that he is urging government self-examination in its solution. 1 table.