OVER A 20-YEAR PERIOD, A GROWING NUMBER OF PRIVATE AGENCIES IN CANADA BEGAN PROVIDING ACCOMMODATION, FOOD, AND RELATED SERVICES TO EX-OFFENDERS, PROBATIONERS AND PAROLEES, PERSONS ON MANDATORY SUPERVISION, AND PERSONS WITH ALCOHOL AND DRUG PROBLEMS. IN 1972 A NATIONAL TASK FORCE ASSESSED THE ROLE AND FUNDING STATUS OF THESE PROGRAMS AND OUTLINED PRINCIPLES TO GUIDE FEDERAL POLICY DEVELOPMENT. FOLLOWING A NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE STATUS AND PROBLEMS OF RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES IN 1974, THE SOLICITOR GENERAL ISSUED A STATEMENT SETTING FORTH FEDERAL POLICY ON COMMUNITY-BASED RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES, BOTH AS CORRECTIONAL ALTERNATIVES AND AS A MEANS OF REINTEGRATING EX-OFFENDERS INTO THE COMMUNITY. DEPENDING ON THE AVAILABILITY OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES, THESE FACILITIES MAY BE OPERATED EITHER EXCLUSIVELY BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THE PROVINCES, OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, OR UNDER A GOVERNMENT-PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERSHIP. TYPICALLY, GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED FACILITIES PROVIDE PRERELEASE SERVICES, WHILE PRIVATE FACILITIES FOCUS ON POSTRELEASE PROGRAMS. THE GOVERNMENT HAS DEVELOPED MINIMUM STANDARDS THAT MUST BE MET BY RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES WISHING TO RECEIVE FEDERAL REFERRALS. IN DEFINING THE APPROPRIATE ROLE FOR RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES, GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAVE CONFRONTED ISSUES RELATED TO FUNDING, STAFF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT, RESEARCH AND EVALUATION, AND PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE OF COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS. THERE REMAINS A NEED FOR BETTER COORDINATION AMONG THE RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES THEMSELVES, AND FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CONSULTATION AND COMMUNICATION MECHANISMS BETWEEN THE FACILITIES AND GOVERNMENT. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)