# KRS § 533.010: 533.010 Criteria for utilizing chapter -- Alternative sentences -- Monitoring by private agency -- Work release > Kentucky · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TL_C533_S533.010 ## Section - **Citation:** KRS § 533.010 - **Heading:** 533.010 Criteria for utilizing chapter -- Alternative sentences -- Monitoring by private agency -- Work release - **Jurisdiction:** Kentucky - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** KY Code / Title L / Chapter 533 / Section 533.010 ## Text 533.010 Criteria for utilizing chapter -- Alternative sentences -- Monitoring by private agency -- Work release. (1) Any person who has been convicted of a crime and who has not been sentenced to death may be sentenced to probation, probation with an alternative sentencing plan, or conditional discharge as provided in this chapter. (2) Before imposition of a sentence of imprisonment, the court shall consider probation, probation with an alternative sentencing plan, or conditional discharge. Unless the defendant is a violent felon as defined in KRS 439.3401 or a statute prohibits probation, shock probation, or conditional discharge, after due consideration of the defendant's risk and needs assessment, nature and circumstances of the crime, and the history, character, and condition of the defendant, probation or conditional discharge shall be granted, unless the court is of the opinion that imprisonment is necessary for protection of the public because: (a) There is substantial risk that during a period of probation or conditional discharge the defendant will commit another crime; (b) The defendant is in need of correctional treatment that can be provided most effectively by his commitment to a correctional institution; or (c) A disposition under this chapter will unduly depreciate the seriousness of the defendant's crime. (3) In the event the court determines that probation is not appropriate after due consideration of the defendant's risk and needs assessment, nature and circumstances of the crime, and the history, character, and condition of the defendant, probation with an alternative sentencing plan shall be granted unless the court is of the opinion that imprisonment is necessary for the protection of the public because: (a) There is a likelihood that during a period of probation with an alternative sentencing plan or conditional discharge the defendant will commit a Class D or Class C felony or a substantial risk that the defendant will commit a Class B or Class A felony; (b) The defendant is in need of correctional treatment that can be provided most effectively by commitment to a correctional institution; or (c) A disposition under this chapter will unduly depreciate the seriousness of the defendant's crime. (4) The court shall not determine that there is a likelihood that the defendant will commit a Class C or Class D felony based upon the defendant's risk and needs assessment and the fact that: (a) The defendant has never been convicted of, pled guilty to, or entered an Alford plea to a felony offense; (b) If convicted of, having pled guilty to, or entered an Alford plea to a felony offense, the defendant successfully completed probation more than ten (10) years immediately prior to the date of the commission of the felony for which the defendant is now being sentenced and has had no intervening convictions, pleas of guilty, or Alford pleas to any criminal offense during that period; or (c) The defendant has been released from incarceration for the commission of a felony offense more than ten (10) years immediately prior to the date of the commission of the felony for which the defendant is now being sentenced and has had no intervening convictions, pleas of guilty, or Alford pleas to any criminal offense during that period. (5) In making a determination under subsection (4) of this section, the court may determine that the greater weight of the evidence indicates that there is a likelihood that the defendant will commit a Class C or Class D felony. (6) Upon initial sentencing of a defendant or upon modification or revocation of probation, when the court deems it in the best interest of the public and the defendant, the court may order probation with the defendant to serve one (1) of the following alternative sentences: (a) To a halfway house for no more than twelve (12) months; that the defendant will commit a Class C or Class D felony. (6) Upon initial sentencing of a defendant or upon modification or revocation of probation, when the court deems it in the best interest of the public and the defendant, the court may order probation with the defendant to serve one (1) of the following alternative sentences: (a) To a halfway house for no more than twelve (12) months; (b) To home incarceration with or without work release for no more than twelve (12) months; (c) To jail for a period not to exceed twelve (12) months with or without work release, community service and other programs as required by the court; (d) To a residential treatment program for the abuse of alcohol or controlled substances; (e) To a reentry center for no more than twelve (12) months; or (f) To any other specified counseling program, rehabilitation or treatment program, or facility. (7) If during the term of the alternative sentence the defendant fails to adhere to and complete the conditions of the alternative sentence, the court may modify the terms of the alternative sentence or may modify or revoke probation and alternative sentence and commit the defendant to an institution. (8) In addition to those conditions that the court may impose, the conditions of alternative sentence shall include the following and, if the court determines that the defendant cannot comply with them, then they shall not be made available: (a) A defendant sentenced to a halfway house shall: 1. Be working or pursuing his or her education or be enrolled in a full-time treatment program; 2. Pay restitution during the term of probation; and 3. Have no contact with the victim of the defendant's crime; (b) A defendant sentenced to home incarceration shall: 1. Be employed by another person or self-employed at the time of sentencing to home incarceration and continue the employment throughout the period of home incarceration, unless the court determines that there is a compelling reason to allow home incarceration while the defendant is unemployed; 2. Pay restitution during the term of home incarceration; 3. Enter a treatment program, if appropriate; 4. Pay all or some portion of the cost of home incarceration as determined by the court; 5. Comply with other conditions as specified; and 6. Have no contact with the victim of the defendant's crime; (c) A defendant sentenced to jail with community service shall: 1. Pay restitution during all or some part of the defendant's term of probation; and 2. Have no contact with the victim of the defendant's crime; (d) A defendant sentenced to a residential treatment program for drug and alcohol abuse shall: 1. Undergo mandatory drug screening during term of probation; 2. Be subject to active, supervised probation for a term of five (5) years; 3. Undergo aftercare as required by the treatment program; 4. Pay restitution during the term of probation; and 5. Have no contact with the victim of the defendant's crime; or sentenced to a residential treatment program for drug and alcohol abuse shall: 1. Undergo mandatory drug screening during term of probation; 2. Be subject to active, supervised probation for a term of five (5) years; 3. Undergo aftercare as required by the treatment program; 4. Pay restitution during the term of probation; and 5. Have no contact with the victim of the defendant's crime; or (e) A defendant sentenced to a reentry center shall: 1. Be employed in the community or working in a vocational program at the reentry center; 2. Be enrolled in a treatment program; 3. Pay restitution, fees, and fines during the term of probation; and 4. Comply with other conditions as specified. (9) When the court deems it in the best interest of the defendant and the public, the court may order the person to work at community service related projects under the terms and conditions specified in KRS 533.070. Work at community service related projects shall be considered as a form of conditional discharge. (10) Probation with alternative sentence shall not be available as set out in KRS 532.045 and 533.060, except as provided in KRS 533.030(6). (11) The court may utilize a community corrections program authorized or funded under KRS Chapter 196 to provide services to any person released under this section. (12) When the court deems it in the best interest of the defendant and the public, the court may order the defendant to placement for probation monitoring by a private agency. The private agency shall report to the court on the defendant's compliance with his or her terms of probation or conditional discharge. The defendant shall be responsible for any reasonable charges which the private agency charges. (13) The jailer in each county incarcerating Class C or D felons may deny work release privileges to any defendant for violating standards of discipline or other jail regulations. The jailer shall report the action taken and the details of the violation on which the action was based to the court of jurisdiction within five (5) days of the violation. (14) The Department of Corrections shall, by administrative regulation, develop written criteria for work release privileges granted under this section. (15) Reimbursement of incarceration costs shall be paid directly to the jailer in the amount specified by written order of the court. Incarceration costs owed to the Department of Corrections shall be paid through the circuit clerk. (16) The court shall enter into the record written findings of fact and conclusions of law when considering implementation of any sentence under this section. ## Nearby sections - [KRS § 533.010 533.010 Criteria for utilizing chapter -- Alternative sentences -- Monitoring by private agency -- Work release](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TL_C533_S533.010.md) - [KRS § 533.015 533.015 Alternatives to incarceration](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TL_C533_S533.015.md) - [KRS § 533.017 533.017 Sentence to local day reporting program](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TL_C533_S533.017.md) - [KRS § 533.020 533.020 Probation and conditional discharge](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TL_C533_S533.020.md) - [KRS § 533.025 533.025 Rate of payment by department to county for incarceration of persons in jail -- Payment of work release fees to jailer and deduction from department's payment -- Department's custody of prisoner for specified medical conditions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TL_C533_S533.025.md) - [KRS § 533.030 533.030 Conditions of probation and conditional discharge -- Restitution to victim](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TL_C533_S533.030.md) - [KRS § 533.040 533.040 Calculation of periods of probation and conditional discharge](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TL_C533_S533.040.md) - [KRS § 533.050 533.050 Arrest of defendant on probation or conditional discharge -- Notice and hearing -- Exception under KRS 439.3108](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TL_C533_S533.050.md) - [KRS § 533.060 533.060 Probation or conditional release -- Effect of use of firearm -- Other felonies](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TL_C533_S533.060.md) - [KRS § 533.065 533.065 Effect of person wearing body armor and carrying deadly weapon at time of offense](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TL_C533_S533.065.md) - [KRS § 533.070 533.070 Sentencing of defendant to work at community service related projects](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TL_C533_S533.070.md) - [KRS § 533.200 533.200 Form of sentencing for convicted persons who have not received a graduation certificate or High School Equivalency Diploma -- Exceptions for an individual with a severe intellectual disability](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TL_C533_S533.200.md) - [KRS § 533.210 533.210 Conduct of program -- Costs -- License](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TL_C533_S533.210.md) - [KRS § 533.220 533.220 Failure to complete reading skills improvement program](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TL_C533_S533.220.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TL_C533_S533.010. 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