Corrections in Canada has evolved largely from responses to social, economic, and situational circumstances, as well as dominant theoretical perspectives. More recently policy has stemmed from policymakers' perceptions of popular opinion about how offenders should be managed and treated. Thus, although Canada has moved toward a more humane approach to corrections that embraces principles of reform, rehabilitation, and reintegration, policies have not consistently been based in a sound analysis of the root causes of crime. Beginning in the early 1990's, the adult correctional population increased as a result of conservative "get-tough" policies toward violent offenders. There has been a trend toward the development of alternatives to incarceration through community-based sentencing options, but the inmate population continues to increase. Some of the pressing challenges for corrections in Canada are protecting the rights of victims, identifying effective alternatives to incarceration, increasing community awareness of correctional issues and increasing citizen involvement, improving offender risk/need assessment and management, improving services for female offenders, and determining the appropriate use of the private sector in corrections. Web-links, 32 references, and 4 notes