THE FAILURE OF COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS HAS BEEN BLAMED BY CRIMINOLOGISTS ON THE NONPARTICIPATING MODERN CITIZEN. ACCORDING TO OPINION POLLS, THE PUBLIC IS UNFAVORABLE TO THE REHABILITATION OF CRIMINALS; LACKS CONFIDENCE IN THE ABILITY OF MODERN SOCIETY TO CONTROL CRIME EFFECTIVELY; AND IS UNAWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF RETURNING THE CRIMINAL TO SOCIETY. RELUCTANCE TO RECEIVE THE CRIMINAL IS APPARENT EVEN AMONG THE LESS EDUCATED AND LESS SOCIOECONOMICALLY PROSPEROUS GROUPS WHICH PRODUCE MANY CRIMINALS. HOWEVER, CRIMINOLOGISTS AND OTHER ADVOCATES OF COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING THEORETICAL SUPPORT OF PROBATION AND CONDITIONAL RELEASE TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC, IF INTEGRATION INTO SOCIETY OF EXOFFENDERS IS TO BE TOLERATED BY THE ORDINARY CITIZEN. MATERIAL ASSISTANCE MUST BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC THROUGH COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL CENTERS. THE SELECTION PROCESS OF PROBATIONERS, THEIR AGENTS, AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS MUST BE UPGRADED TO ACCEPT ONLY THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE MOST LIKELY TO ASSIST EACH OTHER, AS WELL AS IMPROVEMENTS MADE IN TRAINING METHODS (PROGRAM OBJECTIVES, PARTICIPANTS' ROLES) AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES. ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS AND SPECIFIC CASES ARE DISCUSSED. THE CITIZEN SHOULD BE A ROLE MODEL, A FRIEND, AN ASSISTANT IN FINDING JOBS AND LEISURE ACTIVITY, OR AN AIDE WHO HELPS MAINTAIN THE FAMILY BUDGET. THE CITIZEN IS NOT AN EVALUATOR BUT MAY BE OF SUPPORT IN CASES OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS. FOR REDATED DOCUMENT, SEE NCJ 57238. FOR A SUMMARY TRANSLATION OF THIS DOCUMENT IN ENGLISH, SEE NCJ 59507. --IN FRENCH. (MHP)