Over the last 40 years, the concept of alternatives to prison has been interpreted in various ways within a social context that has itself been changing rapidly. This introductory chapter outlines a history of alternatives to prison in the United Kingdom focusing in particular on the changing profile of community penalties over the last two decades. The chapter reviews non-custodial options and the impact of successive time periods. It addresses the era of “penal welfarism,” the era of “alternatives to custody," the era of “punishment in the community,” and the era of the “new generation of community penalties.” It reviews new forms of custodial and community provision, youth justice (arrangements for dealing with young offenders), and non-custodial measures in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Notes, references