Among the task force findings are that the division of responsibility between the counties and the State for incarcerated misdemeanant and serious inmate overcrowding in the State prison system and in many county jails have led to sentencing inconsistencies and different rehabilitation standards for incarcerated misdemeanant across the State. The overcrowding of the State's prisons is caused by the overuse ofimprisonment as a sentencing option for misdemeants and nondangerous felons rather than by a lack of prison beds. This practice is due largely to limited sentencing options. For those who are imprisoned, rehabilitation and reintegration are ineffective in reducing recidivism. Overall, the task force concludes that both State and local correctional systems are ineffective and in need of immediate action to address serious problems. Reform principles proposed by the task force are designed to initiate a fundamental restructuring and reorientation of the State's systems and processes for sentencing, punishing, and rehabilitating criminal offenders. Thirty-six recommendations for establishing a unified State correctional system and a structured sentencing system are in seven major groups: community sanctions, intermediate sanctions, intermediate sanctions enhancement development, institutional sanctions, community reintegration, pretrial diversion, and sentencing policy. Cost, revenue, and cost savings projections for the implementation of the recommendations are provided. Appended supplementary information and a selected reading list on restorative justice