The issues discussed are the role of residential community corrections facilities in the criminal justice system, their geographical and structural variation, type of operating agency, funding and financial issues, their access for female offenders, and policy issues and directions for the future. The reanalysis of 647 surveys and the eight case studies revealed that residential community corrections facilities are diverse in terms of population, organizational base, size, and mission. Despite this diversity, the facilities apparently serve one or more of three typical roles in the criminal justice system. They serve clients at the "front door" of the system as a direct sentence option or one directly accessed through probation. They serve as transition facilities for inmates exiting prison, and they increasingly serve as a release option for offenders ending their time in jail. Key policy issues include the need to target this relatively costly and limited residential capacity to achieve specific and realistic objectives. 12 figures, a 15-item bibliography, and appended survey methodology and case summaries