The first section addresses historical, sociological, psychological, and political perspectives on corrections. The correctional system is viewed as a composite of organizations. Consideration is paid to criminal justice policies, the relation between corrections and other components of the criminal justice system, corrections as a government responsibility, punishment, criminal sanctions, sentencing, the organization of corrections, and offender characteristics and classification. The second section focuses on detention and short-term incarceration in jails and prisons, alternatives to incarceration, probation, institutional programs and management, the prison experience, release from incarceration, community corrections, and community supervision. The final section covers such correctional issues as prisoner rights, corrections for women, and juvenile offenders. References, tables, and figures