Results of the first year of the multiyear longitudinal study indicated that offenders sentenced to community programs usually posed less risk to public safety, as measured by new arrests, than a comparison sample of offenders who were released after having been incarcerated. In addition, those categories of offenders who are typically the source of greatest concern to the public and to policymakers (those convicted of drug or violent crimes) were doing better in the first year than other types of offenders under community supervision. Although the study aimed to inform Connecticut's criminal justice program and policy planning efforts, it has national significance in that it compared alternative to incarceration offenders, with comparison groups of defendants and offenders who were actually incarcerated. Figures, tables, and appended methodological information and tables