The CSO's order convicted offenders to perform from 40 to 240 hours of public work, including supervising youth groups, cleaning streets, assisting in a hospital or home, working construction, and many other tasks. CSO's may be given in lieu of imprisonment for all criminals over 17 years of age and for any crime but murder; CSO legislation was passed in response to growing disillusionment with imprisonment, widespread desire to compel criminal restitution, and interest in reestablishing criminals in the community. Offenders under work orders must give consent, report to a work supervisor, and perform the work within 12 months. Breach of a CSO may result in imprisonment for the original offense. CSO's are administered by community service organizations, which locate and organize community work and encourage public acceptance of the offenders. CSO's may be managed by the local community or probation staffs that also decide which offenders are eligible for CSO's. However, the CSO system lacks guidelines for initiating breach of order suits, is not uniform throughout the country, and lacks uniformity. Other topics include use of CSO's by the courts, information about characteristics of those receiving CSO sentences, and the location of the CSO in the tariff. Notes, an index, and approximately 110 references are included. Information on statistical analyses is appended.