JUDICIAL DECISIONS, CASE HISTORIES AND JUDGES' EVALUATIONS OF THE CASES, ANECDOTES, DESCRIPTIONS AND ILLUSTRATIONS OF VARIOUS CORRECTIONAL PROCEDURES, AND OTHER DISCUSSIONS USED THROUGHOUT THE TEXT. THE ROLES OF THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY, THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY, JUDGES, AND PLEA NEGOTIATIONS IN SENTENCING ARE DISCUSSED. THE BASIC DECISION OF WHETHER TO SEND AN OFFENDER TO PRISON OR TO MAKE USE OF SOME ALTERNATIVE MEASURE IS EXPLORED, AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVES AVAILABLE TO A JUDGE ARE CONSIDERED. THE CONTROL AND TREATMENT OF AN OFFENDER ON PROBATION, CONDITIONS OF PROBATION SUPERVISION AND POSSIBLE REASON FOR REVOCATION ARE EXAMINED. WAYS IN WHICH JUDGES SELECT THE LENGTH OF A PRISON SENTENCE, THEIR OBJECTIVES AND CRITERIA IN SELECTING PRISON OVER SOME ALTERNATIVE, AND APPELLATE REVIEW OF SENTENCES ARE ANALYZED. CONDITIONS WHICH AN INMATE WILL FACE IF HE IS SENTENCED TO PRISON ARE DESCRIBED -- THE CONDTIONS OF CONFINEMENT AND LEGAL CONTROLS UPON THEM, PRISON DISCIPLINE, AND ACCESS TO COURTS BY PRISON INMATES. THE PAROLE SYSTEM IS EXPLAINED, INCLUDING THE PAROLE HEARING, PAROLE RELEASE CRITERIA, AND REVOCATION OF PAROLE. RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON AN OFFENDER AFTER HIS RELEASE FROM PRISON, SUCH AS LOSS OF JUDICIAL, DOMESTIC, AND PROPERTY RIGHTS AND OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, ARE DISCUSSED. A SUBJECT INDEX AND TABLE OF REFERENCED CASES ARE PROVIDED. (VDA)