ALTHOUGH ITALY'S EXPERIENCE WITH ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION DATE BACK ONLY TO 1975, TWO MEASURES HAVE RECEIVED WIDE ATTENTION: TRIAL CUSTODY AND DAY RELEASE. TRIAL CUSTODY IS SIMILAR TO PROBATION IN THE UNITED STATES; SURVEILLANCE MAGISTRATES MAY GRANT IT AFTER THE CONVICT HAS BEEN OBSERVED IN A CORRECTIONAL SETTING FOR 3 MONTHS. ALTHOUGH ITALY HAS NO PRECEDENTS FOR TRIAL CUSTODY, RESULTS HAVE BEEN GOOD. DAY RELEASE ENABLES OFFENDERS TO SPEND PART OF THE DAY OUTSIDE OF PRISON TO WORK OR STUDY; IT RESEMBLES THE AMERICAN HALFWAY HOUSE. RESULTS OF DAY RELEASE ARE ALSO ENCOURAGING. TRIAL CUSTODY AND DAY RELEASE REPRESENT A DRAMATIC CHANGE AND NEW COMPLEXITIES FOR ITALY'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. CHANGES IN PRISON POPULATIONS AND STAFFS, AS WELL AS IN SOCIETY, WHICH REFLECT GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS IN EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC SECURITY, HAVE INCREASED PUBLIC SYMPATHY FOR SUBSTITUTES FOR CRIMINAL IMPRISONMENT. HOWEVER, MILITARY PERSONNEL WHO GUARD PRISONERS STILL OBJECT TO THESE CHANGES. TO OVERCOME THEIR RESISTANCE, THE COLLABORATION OF PROFESSIONALS, CUSTODIAL PERSONNEL, AND CITIZENS IS NEEDED TO FURTHER ALTER PUBLIC OPINION AND PRISON STAFF ATTITUDES. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (PAP)