The American penal system of placing criminal offenders in institutions has evolved from two major goals: (1) to punish offenders as an example to the rest of the community, and (2) to rehabilitate offenders into the community. Since the mid-1960's there has been a trend toward placing offenders in the community and away from isolating them in penal institutions. This paper is concerned with this trend as it relates to training and education programs for offenders. The author reviews the literature pertaining to pretrial intervention and diversion programs and to post-conviction programs. She also presents guidelines to assist interested individuals and groups in planning, designing, and establishing community education programs for offenders, in gaining community support, and in program finance and evaluation. An extensive bibliography is appended, as are a list of the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA) grants awarded for programs relating to pretrial release and educational release during fiscal years 1972-74, and a list of the two- and four-year colleges presently conducting higher education programs in State and Federal penal institutions. (DC)