THE EXAMINATION OF CORRECTIONS IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES INDICATES THAT PRISON IN THESE SYSTEMS MAY HAVE PUNISHMENT, SYMBOLIC OR RETRIBUTIVE PURPOSES, AND DETERENCE OF PROSPECTIVE CRIMINALS AS GOALS. AT THE SAME TIME, CORRECTIONS DOES NOT SERVE ITS PRIMARY MISSION, I.E., TO CORRECT. THERE IS A POSITIVE TREND IN THAT INDIVIDUALS SUBJECTED TO CORRECTIONAL MEASURES ARE BEING INCREASINGLY RECOGNIZED AS HUMAN BEINGS IN SOCIETY RATHER THAN BEING STIGMATIZED AS IRREMEDIABLE OUTCASTS. FURTHER, THERE IS A GROWING AWARENESS THAT PERSONS CONVICTED OF CRIMES CANNOT BE SHUT OUT FROM SOCIETY. DESPITE ADVANCES IN THE HUMANISTIC DIRECTION, A WIDE GAP PREVAILS BETWEEN HUMANE ASPECTS OF THE LAW AND REALITIES OF CORRECTIONS. CORRECTIONAL SYSTEMS IN ENGLAND AND WALES, CANADA, THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, FRANCE, LATIN AMERICA, MEXICO, FINLAND, ISRAEL, JAPAN, AND NIGERIA ARE DETAILED. REFERENCES, NOTES, AND TABLES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)