Typical obstacles to the use of alternatives include lack of knowledge of alternatives, inadequate knowledge of offenders, lack of credible back-up sanctions, public safety concerns, and mandatory sentencing laws. Judges are urged to focus more strongly on the goals of sentencing. Alternatives are discussed that would have some form of incarceration involved such that the offender actually serves some term subject to evaluation of its effectiveness or the incarceration would be held as a possible threat over the offender subject to compliance with conditions set by the court. The use of sentencing alternatives is viewed as potentially successful only if there are effective local-level systems that reinforce the State systems. The development of a sentencing task force and precedents and principles for judges is urged. An argument is made for national level support and a system-wide approach to coordinate sentencing at all jurisdictional levels. 14 footnotes.