The disproportionate arrest and imprisonment of Latinos has been practiced in California since the end of World War II. After the war, little was done to help Latinos find a place in the American socioeconomic system. J. Edgar Hoover and others warned of the unemployment and social chaos that would spawn increased crime following the war, and they advised a policy of building more jails and prisons to house the predicted increase in the number of offenders. Latinos, as a crime-prone underclass, became the primary victims of this imprisonment policy in California. It was not until the arrest rate of whites for drug-related crimes increased in the 1960's that rehabilitative alternatives to imprisonment were developed in California. Still, Latinos are disproportionately imprisoned. When probation is granted to Latinos, primarily because of overcrowding in prisons, it is usually for the maximum allowable time, during which a high percentage are charged with probation violations and sent to jail or prison. The work furlough system rarely serves Latinos, because they are unable to obtain jobs. An increase in education programs for probationers is needed to help Latinos, and the government should examine the practices of the criminal justice system to ensure that discrimination in sentencing does not occur.