A two-phase study was initiated to evaluate these alternatives. In the first phase, defendants sentenced to conditional release in the community were compared to defendants with no conditions as part of their release status. In the second phase, offenders sentenced to alternative programs were compared to offenders sentenced to incarceration and straight probation. The sample for the first study phase included 785 defendants, 9 percent of all defendants given conditional release at arraignment between March 1, 1991, and February 29, 1992. The sample for the second study phase included 645 defendants who were arraigned during the same 12-month period. Study findings made it clear that the decision to expand community supervision pretrial release is working. Defendants released under supervision with pretrial conditions pose less risk of new arrest and failure to appear in court than those ordered to post bond. Therefore, it is concluded that more defendants at high risk of new arrest and failure to appear in court should be referred to intensive supervision programs, particularly Alternative to Incarceration Centers and bail contract programs. Alternatives to incarceration may be effective for the following offender categories at particular risk of new arrest and failure to appear in court: drug defendants, young men charged with crimes against persons, and offenders with prior felony convictions and a history of failing to appear in court. Additional information on the study methodology and supporting data are appended. Footnotes, tables, and figures