A criminal justice system cannot be stronger than its weakest link, and corrections has been the weakest component in our system for far too long. Today's challenge is that of bringing together concerned citizens, public agencies, and private agencies in an effort to create a correctional system that works. Correctional programs can accomplish nothing if there is no place, no work, and no second chance in the community for the ex-offender. Recognition of this situation is bringing about changes in legislation and attitudes, and, most important, the creation of community-based programs, of which Job Therapy is one of the more effective volunteer programs. The Federal system now operates 15 such facilities and has outside contracts for over 100 others. Both Federal and State prisons are critically overcrowded, and, in addition, we now recognize that more than mere incarceration is needed to change or deter offenders. We have a desperate need for better facilities and more, better trained, and better paid personnel so that our correctional system can provide for the human needs of privacy and dignity. This must be coupled with community based, publicly supported programs on a person-to-person basis, so that the ex-offender's intentions to make good can be realized. (SA)