ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE CORRECTIONS FIELD IS CURRENTLY A BATTLEFIELD OF IDEAS AND IDEOLOGIES, THIS BOOK ATTEMPTS TO PRESENT BASIC ARGUMENTS AND COUNTERARGUMENTS TO STIMULATE DISCUSSION ON SOME OF THE 'THRESHOLD' QUESTIONS OF THE U.S. POSTADJUDICATORY SYSTEM (E.G., SHOULD PRISONS EXIST AT ALL?). DESIGNED TO ACQUAINT STUDENTS WITH BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUES, THE TEXT MAY BE USED TO SUPPLEMENT MORE TRADITIONAL TEXTBOOKS. CORRECTIONAL GOALS AND FUNCTIONS ARE DISCUSSED IN THEIR HISTORICAL FRAMEWORK, COMPARING PRISON LEGISLATION FROM THE STATE OF INDIANA TO THAT OF THE COUNTRY OF BELGIUM. ISSUES REGARDING THE EXISTENCE OF CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS ARE VIEWED WITH ATTENTION TO THE EXTRAVAGANCE, THE NECESSITY, THE PATHOLOGY, AND THE PSYCHOLOGICAL POWER OF IMPRISONMENT. PAROLE AND PROBATION ARE EXAMINED IN THE CONTEXT OF THE COMMUNITY'S INVOLVEMENT IN CORRECTIONS. THE TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION VERSUS CUSTODY ISSUES IS DEBATED WITH REFERENCE TO MEDICAL MODELS, COUNSELING, AND COERCION. FINALLY, CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN TO EMERGING ISSUES, SUCH AS 'LAWLESSNESS IN SENTENCING,' DECEPTIVE DETERMINATE SENTENCING, ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE, AUTHORITY VERSUS AUTONOMY IN THE CONTROL OF CONDUCT, RESTITUTION, AND DISCRETION. PERSPECTIVES ON EACH OF THE MAJOR ISSUES ARE ILLUSTRATED WITH QUOTES FROM THE 1970'S JUXTAPOSED TO QUOTES FROM THE EARLY 20TH, LATE 19TH, OR LATE 17TH CENTURIES. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHIES ARE PROVIDED FOR EACH ISSUE, AND AN INDEX IS INCLUDED.