THE HISTORY AND EVOLUTION OF CORRECTIONS, FROM EARLY HISTORY (2,000 B.C. TO 1700 A.D.) TO THE MODERN ERA IS TRACED. ISSUES IN LAW AND THE CORRECTIONAL PROCESS, SUCH AS THE ELEMENTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, POLICE AND PROSECUTORY DISCRETION, SENTENCING, PROBATION, IMPRISONMENT, PAROLE, AND APPELLATE REVIEW ARE ALSO OUTLINED. FEATURED IN A SECTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CONVICTED CRIMINAL ARE DISCUSSIONS OF PRISONER RIGHTS IN CONFINEMENT, THE USE OF FORCE, THE DEATH PENALTY, AND THE RIGHTS OF EX-OFFENDERS. TYPES OF CORRECTIONAL CLIENTS AND THE TYPICAL CORRECTIONAL METHODS APPLIED TO EACH ARE DESCRIBED. AMONG THESE ARE FELONS AND MISDEMEANANTS, WOMEN, JUVENILES, AND SPECIAL CATEGORIES SUCH AS THE CRIMINALLY INSANE. AN INVESTIGATION OF CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATION, INCLUDING THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES OF CORRECTIONS, ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS, AND THE CUSTODY AND TREATMENT MODELS OF CORRECTIONS IS ALSO PROVIDED. THE CHARACTERISTICS, ORGANIZATION, AND PROGRAMS OF CITY, COUNTY, STATE, FEDERAL, AND COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS SYSTEMS ARE CONSIDERED AS WELL. FINALLY, A VIEW OF CORRECTIONAL IDEOLOGIES AND ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION IS INCLUDED.