Although prison construction costs are prohibitive for many countries, renovations and updating facilities must be part of the countries. However, many countries seek prison sentences for far too many offenders. These countries need to introduce sentences that provide alternatives to institutionalization. For this to occur, judges, prosecutors, the police, and the community must all accept these alternatives. Community acceptance is particularly important, but it is not automatically achieved. Criminal justice personnel must convince the public that community- based alternatives are available that can protect their personal safety while punishing and rehabilitating offenders at a much lower social and economic cost to the community. Tables and reference notes