HISTORICAL TRENDS IN THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM REFLECT NEGLECT, IMPRACTICAL OBJECTIVES, AND A SYSTEM THAT HAS BEEN CRISIS-REACTIVE IN NATURE. CONCEPTS OF REHABILITATION AND TREATMENT EFFECTIVENESS WERE NOT REALISTICALLY EXPLORED UNTIL THE 20TH CENTURY; PRIOR TO THIS, CORRECTIONAL ASPECTS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE WERE DIRECTED TOWARD THE PUBLIC'S WELFARE AND DID NOT ENCOMPASS THE OFFENDER'S WELL-BEING. IN THE LATE 1950'S AND EARLY 1960'S, PENAL CONDITIONS REACHED THE POINT WHERE THEY BECAME AN OBVIOUS FACTOR IN THE RISING NATIONAL CRIME RATE AND INCREASED FEAR FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. PRISON POPULATIONS GREW SO LARGE THAT TRAINED CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATORS WITH MANAGERIAL EXPERIENCE, BUDGETARY COMPETENCE, AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS WERE REQUIRED. THE TAXPAYER COST OF MAINTAINING INMATES INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY, AND RECIDIVISM DATA PROVIDED LITTLE EVIDENCE OF A CRIME RATE REDUCTION DUE TO IMPRISONMENT. COST ANALYSIS SUGGESTED THAT THE PRICE OF INCARCERATION COULD BE REDUCED BY INCREASED UTILIZATION OF PROBATION AND PAROLE. IN ADDITION, A COST REDUCTION WAS PERCEIVED AS POSSIBLE THROUGH ENCOURAGING REHABILITATION PROCESSES, INCLUDING DRUG REHABILITATION, PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING, AND EDUCATIONAL-VOCATIONAL TRAINING. CORRECTIONAL SELF-ASSESSMENT WAS SPURRED BY THE PLANNING-PROGRAMMING-BUDGET MOVEMENT. THE LEAA WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1965, AND ONE OF ITS PURPOSES WAS TO EVALUATE CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS. THE CORRECTIONAL RESEARCH AND EVALUATION CENTER IN MEMPHIS, TENN., IS ONE OF LEAA'S FUNDED PROJECTS TO PROVIDE ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM. REFERENCES ARE CCITED. (DEP)