THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM HAS CONFLICTING OBJECTIVES, SOME BEING PUNISHMENT ORIENTED AND OTHERS TREATMENT ORIENTED. TO REMEDY SUCH CONFLICT, IT IS NECESSARY TO REVISE THE SENTENCING PROCESS FOR CONVICTED OFFENDERS. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM, FROM A SOCIETAL BENEFIT PERSPECTIVE, SHOULD BE TO CURB FUTURE CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY INCARCERATED OFFENDERS AFTER RELEASE IN THE LEAST EXPENSIVE MANNER. THE NATIONAL AVERAGE PER CAPITA COST FOR INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF ADULT FELONS IS ABOUT 14 TIMES GREATER THAN THE COST FOR PROBATION SERVICES. THE ESTIMATED COST OF KEEPING A MARRIED MAN IN JAIL IS $11,000 PER YEAR, AND THIS FIGURE INCLUDES THE INMATE'S LOSS OF EARNINGS, THE LOSS OF TAXES HE OR SHE WOULD PAY, AND THE COST INVOLVED IF THE FAMILY HAS TO RECEIVE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE. THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE TO IMPROVE FORMATIVE ASPECTS OF CORRECTIONAL SUPERVISION: (1) REMOVAL OF SENTENCING AUTHORITY FROM JUDGES; (2) EVALUATION IN COMMUNITY-BASED CENTERS; (3) REVIEW OF CORRECTIVE PLANS BY A DISPOSITIONS BOARD; (4) PROVIDING SUPERVISEES WITH AN OPTION TO SIGN ACHIEVEMENT CONTRACTS; AND (5) RIGHT OF APPEAL TO A STATEWIDE DISPOSITIONS BOARD. THE ADVOCATED SENTENCING SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO MAKE CONVICTED OFFENDERS MORE RESPONSIBLE AND TO CURB FURTHER CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. THE MAJOR FEATURE OF THE SYSTEM IS THE REASSIGNMENT OF SENTENCING AUTHORITY FROM PUNISHMENT-ORIENTED CRIMINAL TRIAL JUDGES TO A TREATMENT-ORIENTED DISPOSITIONS BOARD. WITH AN ASSESSMENT OF THE NEEDS AND GOALS OF SUPERVISEES, A DISPOSITIONS BOARD SHOULD BE BETTER PREPARED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OFFENDERS. CRITICISMS OF THE SYSTEM INVOLVE COST AND THE LACK OF SUFFICIENT PUNISHMENT FOR OFFENDERS. THE CHOICE IS VIEWED AS ONE BETWEEN A PUNITIVE SYSTEM THAT ENACTS RETRIBUTION BUT DOES NOT DETER FURTHER CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND A SYSTEM THAT SEEKS TO ASSIST OFFENDERS IN BECOMING PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS. THE LATTER TYPE OF SYSTEM MAY INCLUDE RESTITUTION TO THE VICTIM, COUNSELING FOR PERSONAL OR FAMILY DIFFICULTIES, SECURING AND MAINTAINING EMPLOYMENT, AND ENROLLMENT IN AN EDUCATIONAL OR VOCATIONAL PROGRAM. A FLOW CHART OF PROCEDURAL RECOMMENDATIONS AIMED AT IMPROVING REHABILITATIVE ASPECTS OF CORRECTIONAL SUPERVISION IS PROVIDED. REFERENCES ARE LISTED. (DEP)