If the CSO is used indiscriminately as a middle ground between prison and probation and is used primarily with minor offenders, it will have little impact on incarceration rates. To ensure that CSO's become an actual alternative to incarceration, the offender should first be designated one who would traditionally receive incarceration based on the offense. Then the sentencer must determine the appropriateness of suspending incarceration in lieu of a CSO. Proponents of CSO argue that it permits the offender to maintain employment and family support in the community, serves as a retributive sentence, offers opportunities for normative living, implements the concept of restitution, serves the community, and saves the cost of incarceration. Guidelines are suggested for the implementation of a CSO, and research issues are proposed to provide a better picture of how CSO'a are being used. 8-item bibliography.