ALTHOUGH THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM HAS SERVED AS THE PRIMARY METHOD OF PUNISHING DEVIANT BEHAVIOR, THE VIEW THAT CORRECTIONS SHOULD REHABILITATE OFFENDERS RATHER THAN PUNISH THEM HAS FORCED A REEXAMINATION OF SYSTEM OBJECTIVES. SOME OBSERVERS HAVE SERIOUSLY QUESTIONED USING THE SYSTEM TO PUNISH SUCH CONSENSUAL CRIMES AS PROSTITUTION AND GAMBLING. IN ADDITION, THE GROWING PROBLEM OF WHITE COLLAR CRIMES AND THE PROLIFERATION OF ALTERNATIVES TO INSTITUTIONALIZATION HAVE BECOME PRESSING CONCERNS. QUESTIONS OF CORRECTIONAL PHILOSOPHY AND POLICY, RELATING TO SUCH ISSUES AS THE REHABILIATIVE IDEAL AND SENTENCING MODELS, ADDRESS HOW THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN STRUCTURED TO ACHIEVE SOCIAL CONTROL. CAREFUL CONSIDERATION HAS BEEN GIVEN TO DEFINING SOCIAL DEVIANCE, SINCE SUCH DEFINITIONS INEVITABLY AFFECT THE SYSTEM'S ROLE IN CONTROLLING DEVIANCE. UNFORTUNATELY, SUCH EVALUATIONS OF THE SYSTEM'S ROLE ARE COMPLEX AND DIFFICULT. ALTHOUGH DATA SUGGEST THAT THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN UNABLE TO ACHIEVE DRAMATIC CHANGES IN OFFENDERS, IT HAS NOT BEEN A COMPLETE FAILURE. THE RELATED ISSUES OF RACISM AND SEXISM POSE DISTINCT DIFFICULTIES TO THE EFFECTIVE OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM. AS CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES INCREASINGLY BECOME 'WAREHOUSES' FOR VIOLENT OFFENDERS, QUESTIONS HAVE ARISEN CONCERNING THE TYPES OF TREATMENT METHODS (SUCH AS BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION) WHICH SHOULD BE USED. SUCH REFORMS AS THE USE OF DETERMINATE SENTENCES HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED TO ENHANCE THE POSITIVE EFFECTS WHICH PAROLE HAS ON RECIDIVISM RATES. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (KCP)