THE AUTHOR LEADS THE READER THROUGH THE PROCEDURAL SYSTEM IN WHICH SENTENCING DECISIONS ARE MADE AND PRESENTS SENTENCING ALTERNATIVES. HE DESCRIBES AND EVALUATES THE AIMS WHICH THE SYSTEM IS MEANT TO PURSUE, CONCLUDING THAT THE MEANS AND THE ENDS ARE INCOMPATIBLE. THE ROLE OF THE VICTIM IS CAREFULLY CONSIDERED. RECOGNIZING THAT THE COMPLETE ABOLITION OF PRISONS IS A UTOPIAN IDEAL, THE AUTHOR SUGGESTS INSTEAD THE INTRODUCTION OF REALISTIC, HUMANE STANDARDS INTO THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM. TEN PRINCIPLES OF REFORM ARE POSTULATED TO IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS AND HUMANITY OF THE SYSTEM. THE AUTHOR CONCLUDES WITH AN ANALYSIS OF THE IMPRISONMENT SYNDROME AND AN EXPRESSION OF THE DESIRE FOR A PRACTICAL ALTERNATIVE TO THE ESCAPE OF PRISON. APPENDIXES INCLUDE THE UNITED NATIONS STANDARD MINIMUM RULES FOR THE TREATMENT OF PRISONERS AND THE LIST OF DEMANDS WHICH WAS PRESENTED BY RIOTING ATTICA INMATES. AN INDEX IS PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED).