The New Mexico Chief Public Defender's Alternative Sentencing Program (PD-ASP) operates in five State public defender offices: Albuquerque, Clovis, Las Cruces, Roswell, and Santa Fe. PD-ASP's job is to develop sound alternatives to prison sentencing for its clients and to persuade the courts to accept those plans. In evaluating PD-ASP, the Sentencing Project of Washington, D.C., undertook extensive data analysis of the caseloads of 3 of the 6 sentencing staff members, made site visits to all 5 State public defender offices, and interviewed 58 people involved in the criminal justice system in the 5 locations. Several findings point to the program's success. First, 80 percent of the sentencing plans developed by three of the six sentencing staff members were accepted by the courts. Second, the part of the program evaluated reduced the use of prison and jail space in New Mexico by the equivalent of 62 years of incarceration for those defendants who would have received prison sentences were it not for the program. Third, the program saved the State of New Mexico $1.4 million. Those in the criminal justice system in New Mexico consider the program to be effective. Recommendations include expanding the program and its services, holding more meetings with judges to inform them of the program's operations, and developing alternative sentencing plans for substance abusers who do not rely on treatment. 2 tables.