A 100-percent sample of felony filings for 1 year was used. The variables measured provided information on sentences by offense type, between-district sentencing variation, and factors affecting sentencing. Of the 1,054 Montana felony convictions in 1987, 30.9 percent resulted in a prison sentence, 28.1 percent resulted in a suspended sentence, and 41 percent resulted in a deferred sentence. A total of 19.1 percent of probation sentences included a jail term. Sixty percent of the convictions were for nonviolent offenses. A comparison of sentencing among the counties shows that prison sentences across counties ranged from 22.2 percent to 57.1 percent. Suspended sentences ranged from 9.4 percent to 36.7 percent. Sentence lengths ranged from 2 to 300 years for homicide to 1 to 40 years for burglary. 17 tables, 28 footnotes, and appended data tables and study forms