THE ARGUMENT FOR COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS IS SAID TO REST ON THREE ASSUMPTIONS: THAT THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM INCREASE THE MORE DEEPLY A PERSON PENETRATES INTO THAT SYSTEM; THAT THE CORRECTIONAL EXPERIENCE, PARTICULARLY IN LARGE PRISONS, IS DAMAGING RATHER THAN REHABILITATIVE; AND THAT THE INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENT IS ARTIFICIAL AND THEREFORE NOT CONDUCIVE TO REHABILITATION IN THE CONTEXT OF REAL-LIFE SITUATIONS. QUESTIONS CONCERNING DETERRENCE, RETRIBUTION, AND INCAPACITATION THAT OFTEN ARE RAISED BY CRITICS OF COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS ARE ADDRESSED. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVES MUST INTEGRATE TREATMENT AND INDIVIDUALIZED CASEWORK WITH THE DYNAMICS OF COMMUNITY LIFE. OFFENDERS MUST BE LINKED WITH THE REWARD SYSTEMS OF THE MAINSTREAM. PROVIDING THIS LINKAGE REPRESENTS A MAJOR CHALLENGE FOR COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS. THE CHALLENGE IMPLIES A TWOFOLD NEED: TO INVOLVE THE GATEKEEPERS OF OPPORTUNITY (I.E., COMMUNITY POWER BROKERS) IN BEHALF OF THE INTERESTS OF OFFENDERS; AND TO EMPOWER OTHER CITIZENS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO CREATE RESPONSIVE PROGRAMS. CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS SHOULD GO BEYOND PARTICIPATION IN AGENCY PROGRAMS TO ENCOMPASS ADVOCACY AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. APPROACHES TO GAINING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN CORRECTIONS ARE ILLUSTRATED IN SUMMARY DESCRIPTIONS OF SEVERAL PROGRAMS IN THE UNITED STATES. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT THE KEY TO SUCCESS IN ANY COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROGRAM IS THE ADMINISTRATOR'S WILLINGNESS TO WELCOME THE COMMUNITY AS AN EQUAL. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LM)