Examples of alternative sentences in Australian States are probation, fines, community service orders, attendance center orders, and prerelease community programs that permit early release from prison. The dominant economic motive for expanding alternatives to imprisonment has often contributed to inadequate staffing and insufficient funding for other program resources. A national data base is required to determine whether alternative programs are effective in rehabilitating offenders and reducing prison populations. Fine options and community service orders are apparently more effective than prerelease programs in reducing the prison population, since to compensate for early release, judges have extended nonparole sentence lengths. Sentence policy goals must be developed in consultation with the judiciary and then tested through scientific evaluation if they are to receive and sustain the support of criminal justice professionals and those who determine funding for corrections. 72 footnotes.