A brief literature review cites the research of several respected authors concerning the topic of comparative research, the role and importance of cross-cultural analyses, and the potential for and drawbacks of international studies. Several institutional practices that have evolved in other nations are detailed. In Canada, the 2-year rule places all offenders serving sentences exceeding two years under Federal jurisdiction, while inmates serving shorter terms are placed in institutions operated by the provinces. Unlike the inconsistency in the American correctional system regarding inmate labor, the Japanese concept of forced labor in prisons is used to implement objectives of custody and control, rehabilitation, respect for human dignity, deterrence, and incapacitation. Sweden established the first national ombudsman in 1809 to monitor the administrative bureaucracy of the criminal justice system and recommend changes in procedures and policies. Community programs examined here include the British probation day centers, Germany prosecutorial diversion program, American innovations in electronic monitoring, and the Danish concept of depenalization in which incarceration is eliminated as a sanction for lesser property crimes and minor offenses against public order. When considering the adoptability of correctional programs from one country to another, the socio- political milieu of the receiving country must be considered. However, the author argues that most of the programs described here promise to achieve positive social goals without increasing public spending. 27 references