As crime and arrest rates continue to rise, prisons across the nation and even the world are beginning to experience immense overcrowding, burdening both staff prison and the inmate population. However, this scenario is not unusual for anyone who has worked or served in almost any prison. Given that most prison staff members suffer from high levels of stress due to the unbearable workloads entrusted to them, working conditions are starting to be considered almost impossible, which is completely unacceptable. However, this is normal if you work in a prison. So, what is the Department of Corrections doing to address this problem? Surely, officials are not arresting fewer individuals for committing petty crimes or driving while intoxicated. It goes without saying what should an organization, such as the criminal justice system, do with low-risk offenders to prevent them from clogging prison cells and absorbing unnecessary tax money? Well, the only real way to eliminate a growing prison population is to discuss, analyze, and apply alternatives to prison as possible criteria for sentencing, as well as rehabilitation. Alternatives such as probation, parole and community service will help keep the prison population at bay and at a manageable rate. Furthermore, taxpayers' money can be used for another issue, while low-risk criminals can give something back to the community by carrying out tasks imposed by the legal system. The idea is to reduce stress from prison overcrowding and leave vacancies open for those convicted of capital crimes. However, those who get arrested for committing petty crimes may simply need some rehabilitation to get their lives back on track. Community-based sentencing...... half of article......ary.wilmu.edu:2969/docview/909496796?accountid=40461Suber, W. (2008). Community service programs in corrections and their impact on inmate infractions. (Order No. 3345055, University of Phoenix). ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, , 133-n/a. Retrieved from http://mylibrary.wilmu.edu:2969/docview/304336526?accountid=40461.(304336526).Wall, A. T. (2010). Rhode Island Halts Prison Population Growth and Increases Public Safety at the Same Time. Corrections Today, 72(1), 40-44. Retrieved from http://mylibrary.wilmu.edu:2969/docview/215708871?accountid=40461Wermink, H., Blokland, A., Nieuwbeerta, P., Nagin, D., & Tollenaar, N. (2010). Comparing the effects of community service and short-term detention on recidivism: A matched samples approach. Journal of Experimental Criminology, 6(3), 325-349.doi: Retrieved from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/ S11292-010-9097-1