ABSTRACT
Sanford Bates was the first director of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. In addition, he occupied top administrative positions in three state correctional systems. His struggle to improve prison and parole during the thirty-five years that he served as director of state and federal prison systems was founded on his belief that offender rehabilitation provides society with the best protection from crime. Along with public service, his career included work as an attorney, educator, author, and consultant.
