true extent to which courts impose these alternatives is not apparent in this trend, however, because of the unique composition of the federal sentencing population. Specifically, a large proportion of non-citizen federal offenders (who often are ineligible for alternative sentences) are imprisoned. This paper analyzes alternative sentences for federal offenders and, specifically, United States citizens sentenced under various types of alternatives. This analysis describes current federal sentencing policy governing alternative sentences and examines offenders with alternative sentences using the United States Sentencing Commissions data. An analysis of factors associated with alternative sentences imposed for eligible offenders provides insight into considerations made by federal sentencing courts in
determining whether to impose alternatives.”
