Book excerpt: Probation, Parole, and Community Corrections Work in Theory and Practice is a comprehensive examination of probation, parole, and other correctional practices that are alternatives to incarceration. The textbook covers important topics related to community corrections, including an overview of correctional programs used as alternatives to incarceration (probation, parole, home confinement, and electronic monitoring); the history and development of community correctional practices; current controversies; and legal issues affecting probation, parole, and community correctional practices. Critical thinking questions in each chapter along with case studies and case scenarios reflect the book's balanced approach to examining community corrections. The emphasis on developing problem solving, report writing, and critical thinking skills makes this book an excellent choice for students who desire to enter the field. Students completing a course using this book will have not only an understanding of the dynamic forces of community corrections but also the skill competence that prepares them for entry-level positions in community corrections agencies.