The paper first defines "community corrections" as "programs involving individuals under some form of court-ordered supervision, and living in the community, not in a jail or prison." In this paper, the term is used to include all community-based programs that affect convicted offenders and all programs designed to divert individuals from the criminal justice system. The paper then advises volunteers that whether they are members of an advisory or community corrections committee, a member of a reparative/restorative justice panel, a member of a provider agency board, or a program volunteer, tutor, or mentor, they bring a critical dimension to the criminal justice system. In discussing why the volunteer's role is so important in community corrections, the paper identifies what volunteers do for offenders in helping to bring quality programs to bear on offenders' lives as they act as mentors and tutors; what volunteers do for the community in linking criminal justice expertise and resources with community needs; what volunteers do for victims in advocating for victim services and providing direct help to victims; and what volunteers do for the policymakers in providing input on citizen perceptions of community needs. Suggestions for volunteers encompass being clear about expectations, asking questions, appreciating differences, meeting with fellow volunteers, and making the most of the opportunity. 6 annotated resources and a reference list of criminal justice terms