An outline and critical appraisal of alternatives to custody, this book is written in response to escalating prison costs, severe overcrowding and rising recidivism rates. It assesses the validity of punishment in the community as a means of solving some of these problems.

This report surveys and summarizes the literature on the use of alternative sanctions in 12 western countries with a particular focus on its effectiveness and efficiency.

Introduces the reader to the basic principles central to understanding alternatives to imprisonment as well as descriptions of promising practices implemented throughout the world. This handbook offers information about alternatives to imprisonment at various stages of the criminal justice process.

This publication consists of two volumes. V.1 presents regional and case study reports; volume 2 presents a review of the literature and the International bibliography of alternatives to imprisonment, 1980-1989.