The authors argue that the current sparseness of sentences between the extremes of imprisonment and probation underlies the current crisis of prison overcrowding and unmanageable probation caseloads. The authors propose instead a comprehensive program that relies on a range of sentences, including fines and other financial sanctions, community service, house arrest, intensive probation, closely supervised treatment programs for mental illness and drug and alcohol abuse, and electronic monitoring of offender movement. They rebut the argument that such sentences are sentimental, therapeutic responses to crime that are insufficiently punitive. Overall, the book reasons that systematically implemented and rigorously enforced intermediate punishments can better and more economically serve the community, the victim, and the criminal than the existing system of imprisonment and probation orders. 207 references, subject index. (Publisher summary modified)