The study found that there are large numbers of offenders who might be eligible for community-based supervision, punishment, and treatment programs; these are offenders who have been charged with or convicted of nonviolent or substance-abuse crimes and have minor arrest histories. Specialized program interventions are especially critical for certain identified populations: Latinos, women, 16- and 17-year-olds, substance abusers, and offenders charged with crimes of misdemeanor assault. Persons with substance-abuse charges, especially possession, have the shortest average criminal "careers;" treatment/punishment options for them may be more effective than only punitive sanctions. The study found that alcohol abuse was more directly associated with violent crime than was illegal substance abuse. Alcohol treatment should thus be a key component of alternative sanctions programming. The study advises that the expansion of community-based supervision and treatment options is especially critical for urban areas, where there are high proportions of violent and substance-related crimes, as well as higher rates of pretrial incarceration and prison sentences than other courts.