The goal of the increased use of probation sentencing for felony offenders who have typically been imprisoned is to reduce jail and prison overcrowding. The sample for analysis was drawn from the 1986 criminal court sentencing population for Suffolk County: 96 split sentence cases (probation and incarceration), 15 community service cases (probation and period of community service), 75 straight probation, and 25 straight jail. A data collection instrument was devised and tested. Variables were selected on the basis of their availability to the judge for decisionmaking and their possible influence on sentencing. These included social factors such as age, race, education, employment, and drug or alcohol abuse and legal factors such as number of arrests, offense severity, violence, and prior probation. Based on this analysis, the following major variables have been incorporated into presentence investigative criteria: severity of current offense, number of prior arrests, history of institutionalization, and drug abuse. Employment status can also be used in conjunction with other major variables as a predictor of the jail/prison-bound population. Those so identified qualify for an enhanced presentence investigation in an effort to develop a sentence alternative to incarceration. 9 tables and sample study forms.