The historical review begins with the practices of primitive tribal societies in which offenders against the gods were viewed as endangering the welfare of the whole tribe and, therefore, were killed or driven into the wilderness. Personal revenge was an accepted practice in these cultures. Concepts of justice among the Greeks, Romans, and other early civilizations are described, as is the medieval system of fines which called for mutilation, whippings, tortures, and public executions to discourage crime. The history of punishment is traced through the eventual establishment of prisons and the many reform movements that tried to improve the prisoner's lot. Criminal justice in the 1980's is introduced by following a 20-year-old female offender through her arrest, trial, conviction, and institutionalization at Dwight Correctional Center in Illinois. In the process, counseling, educational, and job training programs are examined, and the chances that this inmate may become a law abiding citizen after release are evaluated. Among the general themes that also receive attention are the extent of brutality in prison life, whether the justice system discriminates against the poor and minorities, the purposes and accomplishments of parole, and the alternatives to prison. Furthermore, prison systems in other countries and new ideas being realized in the United States are discussed. The material is intended for a general audience. Photographs, an index, and a 34-item bibliography are included.