THREE MAJOR INQUIRIES INTO THE CANADIAN CORRECTIONS SYSTEM WERE CONDUCTED IN 1938, 1956, AND 1969. ALL FOCUSED ON THE REHABILITATIVE AND TREATMENT ROLE OF THE PENAL SYSTEM, VIEWING THE ROLE AS CENTRAL, DEFENDING IT FOR THE SAME REASONS, PERCEIVING FAILURES IN APPLICATION, AND ASSUMING THE SITUATION TO BE CORRECTABLE. THE TREND TOWARD MORE AND MORE TREATMENT IN PRISONS CONTINUED INTO THE 1970'S, WITH AT LEAST TWO REPORTS EXPRESSING GROWING DISSATISFACTION WITH THE APPLICATION OF PROGRAMS AND PRINCIPLES AND STRESSING THE NEED FOR MORE SOPHISTICATED TRAINING, STAFF, AND PROGRAMS. IN 1973, HOWEVER, A REPORT BY THE SOLICITOR GENERAL BROUGHT OUT THE SYSTEMS APPROACH THEME, STRESSING THE NEED FOR MORE PREVENTION AND DIVERSION AND VIEWING PRISONS AS A SANCTION OF LAST RESORT. THE COMMUNITY WAS SAID TO BE INFINITELY PREFERABLE TO THE PRISON AS A MILIEU FOR REHABILITATION. THIS THEME WAS CARRIED FURTHER BY THE 1976 REPORT OF THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION, WHICH CONCLUDED THAT PRISONS HAD FAILED AS DETERRENTS AND AS REHABILITATORS AND THAT SOCIETY HAD TO READJUST ITS IDEA OF THE VERY PURPOSES OF INCARCERATION. A REVIEW OF THE TRENDS IN THOUGHT REPRESENTED IN THESE REPORTS BRINGS OUT A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS REGARDING THE APPROPRIATE ROLE OF PRISONS. A 1977 FEDERAL CORRECTIONS AGENCY TASK FORCE REPORT ATTEMPTS TO ADDRESS THESE QUESTIONS THROUGH ITS 'CORRECTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES' MODEL, IN WHICH PRISONS WOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE ONLY FOR PROVIDING OFFENDERS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIOR AND ATTITUDES, NOT FOR REHABILITATING OR CURING THOSE WHO DO NOT WANT TO BE REHABILITATED OR CURED. SEPARATE SUMMARIES OF THE 10 REPORTS ACCOMPANY THE ANALYSIS. -IN ENGLISH AND FRENCH.