Examine the importance of alternatives to incarceration as a means for controlling prison populations.

1)Courts are the segment of the criminal justice system responsible for imposing sentences on convicted offenders. Unless otherwise required as part of a mandatory sentencing structure, courts will often have a variety of alternatives when imposing punishment. 2) The correctional system has the responsibility of supervising offenders sentenced for crimes. This includes both incarcerated offenders, as well as offenders serving sentences in the community. As prison overcrowding has increased, the use of alternative punishments has become more popular as a means for reducing incarceration populations. Compose an essay of 500 – 700 words that examines the importance of alternatives to incarceration as a means for controlling prison populations. As part of your response discuss the impact that alternative programs has had on the administration of correctional agencies from the perspective of both prisons and community programs. Compose an essay of 500 – 700 words that examines the role of court administrators with ensuring that the appropriate punishment is imposed when sentencing alternatives exist. For the purposes of this question the term “court administrators” is defined as judges and prosecutors. As part of your response provide examples of factors that must be considered when determining the appropriate sentence for an offender.