THE ARTICLE OPENS WITH AN OVERVIEW OF CORRECTIONAL REFORMS, CORRECTIONAL OBJECTIVES, AND RELATIONSHIPS AMONG CORRECTIONS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, AND THE COURTS. THE DISCUSSION THEN TURNS TO ASPECTS OF THE NATION'S JAILS (THE 'REVOLVING DOOR' PROBLEM, THE INMATE POPULATION, LOCAL CONTROL, STAFF, ADMINISTRATION, INMATE RIGHTS, SERVICES, BAIL STATUS, PRETRIAL DELAY); JUVENILE CORRECTION SYSTEM (DETENTION, TRAINING SCHOOL, PARENS PATRIAE, RIGHTS OF JUVENILES); PRISONS (TYPES OF INSTITUTIONS, PRISON POPULATION, EFFECTS OF THE PRISON ENVIRONMENT, PROTECTION AND REFORM, WOMEN'S PRISONS, INSTITUTIONAL INNOVATION, REMUNERATION FOR LABOR, COED FACILITIES, CONJUGAL VISITS); AND COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS (PROBATION, PAROLE, JUVENILE PROBATION, DIVERSION, FOSTER AND GROUP HOMES, HALFWAY HOUSES, FURLOUGH PROGRAMS, WORK- AND STUDY-RELEASE). THE MOVEMENT TOWARD GREATER RELIANCE ON COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS IS SAID TO HAVE PROMOTED THE USE OF PROGRAMS AIMED AT MAXIMIZING THE OFFENDER'S POTENTIAL FOR REFORM AND MINIMIZING THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF INSTITUTIONALIZATION. THE TRENDS TOWARD CLOSER SCRUTINY OF JAILS BY STATE AGENCIES AND TOWARD GREATER USE OF COMMUNITY AND DIVERSIONARY PROGRAMS FOR JUVENILES ARE NOTED. ALTHOUGH COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS APPEAR PROMISING, PROBLEMS OF PUBLIC APATHY AND LACK OF SUPPORT MUST BE OVERCOME IF THE FULL POTENTIAL OF COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS IS TO BE ACHIEVED. A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF BOOKS, PERIODICALS, GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS, AND CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS IS PROVIDED. A CHAPTER TEST IS INCLUDED.