THE AUTHOR PRESENTS HISTORICAL AND GENERAL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE ENTIRE RANGE OF INSTITUTIONS FROM A MAXIMUM-SECURITY PRISON TO A HALFWAY HOUSE AND A REVIEW OF THE PRISON COMMUNITY. DIFFERENT TYPES OF OFFENDERS ARE CHARACTERIZED AND TREATMENT NEEDED BY EACH IS SUGGESTED. COMMENTS ARE MADE ON THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE CHARACTERISTICS OF BOTH ADULT AND JUVENILE MALE AND FEMALE OFFENDERS. THE AUTHOR ANALYZES VIOLENT OFFENDERS IN THE CONTEXT OF THEIR SUBCULTURAL BACKGROUND AND PERSONAL PATHOLOGY, AND HE DISCUSSES OFFENDERS SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ABERRATIONS. CHARACTERIZATIONS ARE MADE OF BOTH THE DANGEROUS AND RELATIVELY HARMLESS SEX OFFENDERS WITH THEIR PSYCHOTIC REACTIONS AND COMPULSIONS. SUGGESTIONS ARE MADE ON HOW TO IMPROVE PROBATION AND PAROLE, THE TRADITIONAL FORMS OF COMMUNITY REINTEGRATION. EXAMPLES ARE TAKEN FROM PRISONS IN THE U.S., IN INDIA ENGLAND, AND SWEDEN. ( AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)