Early release programs represent a mistaken approach to relieving overcrowding, because dangerous criminals are often released to make room for new admissions. The authors argue that judges play a key role in dictating the level of demand for prison spaces. Under the proposal outlined here, judges would be assigned a certain amount of prison space. They would have to evaluate each of their cases carefully to determine which offenders, and which offenses, merit a prison space. In effect, judges would be forced to send the most dangerous criminals to prison, while finding alternative sanctions for less serious offenders.