Serious persistent offenders are generally rational, although they differ systematically from the rationality suggested by economic theory. Policymakers need to examine other models, to understand the three main ways in which current policies deviate from approaches that would achieve deterrence effectiveness, and recognize the policy implications of this knowledge. The first major problem with current sentencing policies is the overemphasis on the severity of punishment at the expense of certainty and swiftness of punishment. Severity means little to persistent offenders, whereas they do respond to certainty and swiftness of punishment. In addition, communication to offenders regarding potential punishments receives too little emphasis. Finally, law enforcement is currently semi-random rather than focused in ways that recognize the role of tipping. Needed changes include sentencing that emphasizes certainty and swiftness, reinvigoration of probation and parole through the use of technology and the authority to punish violations, and concentrated law enforcement to overwhelm offenders. Researchers of diverse perspectives agree that non-incarcerative corrections is central to crime control, even though 90 percent of current corrections budgets focus on the 25 percent of offenders who are incarcerated rather than in community corrections. Audience questions with the speaker's answers, as well as an introduction by National Institute of Justice Director Jeremy Travis