IMPRISONMENT AS A PENAL SANCTION WAS PRACTICALLY UNKNOWN UNTIL THE 18TH CENTURY, WHEN TWO ENLIGHTENED PENOLOGISTS, CESAR BECCARIA AND JOHN HOWARD, CHAMPIONED THE DETENTION OF CRIMINAL OFFENDERS VERSUS THE HITHERTO APPLIED INHUMANE FORMS OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT AND DEATH BY EXECUTION. ALTHOUGH IMPRISONMENT WAS AN IMPROVEMENT ON PREVIOUS PENAL POLICIES, IT IS NOW SLOWLY BEING REPLACED BY MORE PROGRESSIVE, ECONOMICAL, AND EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE SANCTIONS. THIS PAPER DESCRIBES THE NEW TYPES OF CORRECTIONS, GIVING DETAILED LEGAL DEFINITIONS OF EACH. THEY INCLUDE PROBATION, PAROLE, OPEN PRISONS, AND COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS. THE ADVANTAGES TO SOCIETY AND TO THE OFFENDERS TREATED UNDER THESE VARIOUS TYPES OF NONCUSTODIAL CORRECTIONS ARE DESCRIBED FROM THE VIEWPOINTS OF SOCIETY, THE PROBATIONER (OR PAROLEE), AND THE PROBATION AND/OR PAROLE OFFICER, WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON PUBLIC FUND SAVINGS AND EFFECTIVENESS, MAINTENANCE OF OFFENDERS' TIES WITH FAMILY AND COMMUNITY, AND MAXIMIZED CHANCES OF REHABILITATION AND SOCIAL REINTEGRATION. THE STUDY ENDS WITH EXPRESSIONS OF REGRET FOR THE ABSENCE OF ANY TYPE OF PROGRESSIVE PENOLOGICAL TREATMENT EXTENDED TO OFFENDERS IN PANAMA. TABULAR DATA ARE APPENDED.--IN SPANISH.