INTRODUCTORY CHAPTERS PRESENT HISTORICAL DATA AND TRACE ATTITUDE DEVELOPMENT TOWARD PUNISHMENT. THEN THE LAW AND ITS CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENDERS AND OFFENSES ARE EXAMINED. A BASIC STUDY OF THE COURT SYSTEM, SENTENCING AND APPELLATE REVIEW PRECEDES A SECTION ANALYZING THE CORRECTIONAL PROCESS IN ITS INDIVIDUAL PARTS -- PROBATION, IMPRISONMENT, AND PAROLE. THE RIGHTS OF THE CONVICTED CRIMINAL ARE EXAMINED REGARDING RIGHTS IN CONFINEMENT, THE USE OF FORCE, THE DEATH PENALTY, AND THE RIGHTS OF EX-OFFENDERS. A SECTION OF THE TEXT CONSIDERS THE CORRECTIONAL CLIENT USING THE FOLLOWING BREAKDOWNS: MALE OFFENDERS, FEMALE OFFENDERS, JUVENILE DELINQUENTS, AND SPECIAL CATEGORY OFFENDERS. CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATION IS ANALYZED IN TERMS OF ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES, ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS, CUSTODY, AND TREATMENT. FINALLY, THE TEXT FOCUSES ON CORRECTIONAL SYSTEMS. THE BASIC STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION, QUALITY, AND EFFICIENCY OF JAILS AND DETENTION CENTERS, STATE AND FEDERAL PRISON SYSTEMS, AND COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS PROGRAMS ARE EVALUATED. THE CONCLUDING CHAPTER DISCUSSES THE ROLE OF CORRECTIONS IN A CLIMATE OF SOCIAL CHANGE, PROPOSED ALTERNATIVES TO THE PRESENT SYSTEM, THE IMPACT OF RESEARCH, AND CURRENT AND FUTURE TRENDS. INDIVIDUAL CHAPTERS IN THE TEXT END WITH BRIEF SUMMARIES OF THE MATERIAL, REVIEW QUESTIONS, AND SUGGESTED READING LISTS. A GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND AN INDEX ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)