Most military lawbreakers are confused young men and women who have committed a military offense or a minor criminal offense. The prisoner populations of all service branches are increasing, probably due to the tough antidrug campaign, the poor quality of recent recruits, or other factors. Military offenders, like civilian juvenile delinquents, are often surface, lower class families torn by divorce or marital strife, are high school dropouts, have police records, and are often members of minority groups. The military services believe that they can solve these problems through the application of character-building discipline. Punishment is their loss of freedom, enforced with a healthy dose of military discipline. Although military lockups are far safer, cleaner, and more efficiently operated now than civilian jails and prisons as a result of the reforms of the late 1960's, the history of military corrections is filled with stories of whippings, beating and executions; a few ugly incidents still surface, such as the recent abuse of a sailor about the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Ranger that resulted in the young man's death. Each service branch has small lockups on camps and bases throughout the world, larger brigs, installation detention facilities or stockades, and detention facilities. Each also operates 'restoration' programs, which serve as alternatives to incarceration and rely heavily on individual counseling. Most prisoners appear to be 'authority fighters' whose response to problems is to run away, and many were arrested for drug involvement. Once apprehended, military offenders are tried under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and face nonjudicial punishment hearings, summary court martials, or special and general court martials. Reasons why military justice is condemned by some and praised by others are noted. Photographs are provided.