British research on the use of community-based corrections with older offenders is limited, particularly when compared with research on the management of older offenders in prison. Given that the research on the experiences of older offenders in prison has exposed the difficulty and expense of providing appropriate healthcare and housing for older inmates, it is logical to assume that future research will have a greater focus on the cost-effectiveness of community-based corrections for older offenders. One difficulty in promoting community supervision for older offenders is that a disproportionately high percentage of them are sex offenders, particularly among males. The image of older sex offenders is that they are at high risk of reoffending and are not likely to change their behavior even if they receive treatment. This may be why research has shown that older offenders are more likely to receive a direct sentence of custody and less likely to receive a community sentence than other adult offenders. The challenge is to review existing research and conduct new research on the reoffending risk of the various types of older offenders and the effectiveness of various types of community supervision and programming that produce successful outcomes for various types of older offenders. The new sentencing framework for community sentences introduced in Great Britain under the Criminal Justice Act 2003 may present an opportunity for reconsidering the nature of community sentences for older offenders. The challenge is to focus on the offending patterns, histories, and interactions of older offenders in relation to their potential for supervision in the community. 36 references