IN ORDER TO TREAT MENTALLY ABNORMAL OFFENDERS, THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT HAS COMMITTED ITSELF TO BUILDING MAXIMUM-SECURITY, REGIONAL PSYCHIATRIC CENTERS AS PART OF ITS PENITENTIARY SYSTEM. HOWEVER, IRRECONCILABLE CONFLICTS EXIST BETWEEN TREATMENT AND SECURITY DEMANDS. A MAJOR OBSTACLE TO CHANGE IS THE PUBLIC MOOD OF APATHY AND HOSTILITY TOWARD OFFENDERS, OFTEN COMBINED WITH ANTIPSYCHIATRIC AND ANTITHERAPEUTIC ATTITUDES. THE DEMAND FOR TOUGHER MEASURES TO COMBAT VIOLENT CRIME REFLECTS THE INCREASING INCIDENCE OF SUCH OFFENSES AND THE PUBLIC DISTRUST OF EXPERTS WHO SAY THAT MENTALLY ILL OFFENDERS ARE NOT REALLY DANGEROUS. CONTROVERSY CONCERNING THE CANADIAN DANGEROUS SEXUAL OFFENDER LEGISLATION IS REVIEWED, AND THE NEW ACT FOR THE BETTER PROTECTION OF CANADIAN SOCIETY AGAINST PERPETRATORS OF VIOLENT AND OTHER CRIMES IS CRITICIZED. THIS NEW ACT, WHICH SUPPOSEDLY WILL PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM ASSAULT BY VICIOUS CRIMINALS, DOES NO MORE THAN INCARCERATE FOR LIFE A GROUP OF SOCIALLY AND SEXUALLY INADEQUATE MISFITS IN CONDITIONS OF APPALLING DEGRADATION. SINCE THE INCREASING USE OF REPRESSIVE MEASURES WILL INEVITABLY LEAD TO AN ESCALATION OF INSTITUTIONAL VIOLENCE, CRIMINOLOGISTS HAVE AN URGENT RESPONSIBILITY TO SUGGEST VIABLE ALTERNATIVES THAT MAKE SENSE TO AN ANXIOUS AND CONFUSED PUBLIC. EXCERPTS FROM NEWSPAPER STORIES ARE INCLUDED. (PRG)