Community-based supervision of defendants provides an important and significant benefit as a major cost-saving alternative to jail or prison. It costs significantly more to house a defendant in the federal prison system than to supervise a defendant in the community. An effective program of supervision helps protect the public by reducing the risks that persons under supervision will commit future crimes, while providing necessary services to assist the defendant in coping with daily issues and problems pending completion of the federal criminal case. As an alternative to incarceration, pretrial supervision allows federal defendants to remain with their families, maintain employment, receive needed services, and provide support for them to be productive members of society.