OJJDP considers the intensive supervision program (ISP) a promising intermediate sanction for first-time serious or violent juvenile offenders who are inappropriate for or fail to respond successfully to immediate intervention. Many serious and violent offenders at this stage may be appropriate for placement in an intensive supervision program that serves as an alternative to secure incarceration. The Intensive Supervision of Probationers Program Model is a highly structured, continuously monitored, individualized plan that consists of five phases with decreasing levels of restrictiveness: 1. Short-term placement in community confinement. 2. Day treatment. 3. Outreach and tracking. 4. Routine supervision. 5. Discharge and followup. Program models such as these have been found to be effective for many serious, violent, and chronic juvenile offenders, obviating the need for secure incarceration. OJJDP views the intensive supervision program as a positive response to the need to address the overcrowding of juvenile detention centers. The Planning Guide offers practitioners the tools they need to implement confidently an ISP as an alternative to long-term institutional confinement for designated juvenile offenders. OJJDP believes the intensive supervision program offers the juvenile justice system a needed alternative to incarceration for the right juvenile offender.