One paper describes the historic context, structure, and operations of the pilot Criminal Defense Consortium of Cook County, Ill., (May 1976-October 1978), a neighborhood defender office system tailored to the relevant standards of the National Advisory Commission on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals. This is followed by a critique of the Cook County Juvenile Court (Illinois) in the areas of parental notice, personnel, detention, and dispositions. Then, an examination of the history of American jails indicates that many jail conditions and practices have not changed much since colonial days. Interviews with three Illinois sheriffs focus on the definition of police corruption, the extent of corruption in their departments, and strategies for dealing with such corruption. After a description of the significance and curriculum of the Illinois Correctional Training Academy, another essay reviews U.S. Supreme Court decisions interpreted to indicate a new 'hands-off' policy for Federal courts regarding inmates' rights. An essay argues for clearer guidelines for the use of community service orders to ensure they fulfill their intended role in sentence alternatives to incarceration. The concluding essay projects the future of criminal justice in America. Chapter notes, and subject index.