As directed by section 1703 of Public Law 101-647.

Increasingly, criminal justice professionals have argued that dwindling prison space should be reserved for the most serious and dangerous offenders, necessitating a reconsideration of alternative sanctions for first-time and nonviolent offenders. This paper analyzes alternative sentences for federal offenders and, specifically, United States citizens sentenced under various types of alternatives. This analysis describes current federal sentencing policy governing alternative sentences and examines offenders with alternative sentences using the United States Sentencing Commission’s data. An analysis of factors associated with alternative sentences imposed for eligible offenders provides insight into considerations made by federal sentencing courts in determining whether to impose alternatives. Other products relating to this topic that may also be of interest include the following: United States Sentencing Commission Guidelines Manual 2015 can be found at this link: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/node/49457 Code of Federal Regulations, Title 28, Judicial Administration, Pt. 0-42, Revised as of July 1, 2015 can be found at this link: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/869-082-00111-9 Slip Opinion 13-1333, Coleman v. Tollefson can be found at this link:https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/828-050-00037-1 Slip Opinion 14-6368, Kingsley v. Hendrickson can be found at this link:https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/828-050-00058-3

The number of non-citizens processed in the Federal criminal justice system increased an average 10% annually from 1984 to 1994. During 1984, 3,462 non-citizens were prosecuted in U.S. district courts; during 1994, more than 10,000 were prosecuted. The overall Federal criminal caseload increased at a much slower rate between 1984 and 1994 -- an average of less than 2% annually. During 1984, 49,000 defendants were prosecuted in U.S. district courts; during 1994 approx. 59,000 were prosecuted. The increase in the overall number of non-citizens prosecuted is primarily the result of the increase in the number of non-citizens charged with drug offenses. Illustrations. This is a print on demand edition of a hard to find report.