THE LIMITED REFERENCE TO COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE UNITED NATIONS STANDARD MINIMUM RULES FOR THE TREATMENT OF PRISONERS IS SAID TO BE ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE FACT THAT, IN MANY COUNTRIES, COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IS IN THE DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES. THE SUGGESTED PRINCIPLES PERTAIN TO THE GOALS SHARED BY COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS AND OTHER CORRECTIONAL ACTIVITIES (E.G., PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC, JUST AND HUMANE TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS, COORDINATION WITH OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM), AND TO THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCOMPLISHING THE OBJECTIVES OF COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS (E.G., COMPETENT STAFF, ADEQUATE RESOURCES, WILLINGNESS TO TRY NEW APPROACHES). IT IS POINTED OUT THAT, FROM THE OUTSET, CITIZENS NEED NOT ONLY TO BE INFORMED OF THE INTENT TO ESTABLISH NEW CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROGRAMS. THE KEY TO COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IS SAID TO BE A STRONG COMMUNITY RELATIONS PROGRAM. THE APPROACH TAKEN BY THE PIONEER COOPERATIVE AFFILIATION -- AN AGENCY THAT OPERATES A COMPLEX OF PRERELEASE CENTERS FOR OFFENDERS IN THE UNITED STATES -TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IS DESCRIBED. GUIDELINES PERTAINING TO THE PROTECTION OF BOTH THE OFFENDER AND THE COMMUNITY IN COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS ARE NOTED. THE WORK UNDERTAKEN BY THE COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION FOR CORRECTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES IS DESCRIBED, WITH EMPHASIS ON THE COMMISSION'S APPROACH TO STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT. (LKM)