Home and community detention are now options within Alexandra, Clyde, and Cromwell for people convicted of crimes within Central Otago.
Previously, sentences of home and community detention were not available in the district because of its distance from permanent staff.
The limited range of appropriate sentence options within Central Otago often resulted in offenders receiving harsher penalties than might otherwise have been the case, including jail time.
Community Probation and Psychological Services area manager Monique Cunningham said community detention was now an option in Alexandra, Clyde and Cromwell as permanent staff were now based in Alexandra.
Mrs Cunningham, who is based in Dunedin, said towns in the rest of Central Otago would not be eligible for the sentencing option until it was properly trialled.
"We want to get these new parts of Central Otago bedded in and make sure we've ironed out any issues that may arise before we look at extending it any further," she said.
Central Otago lawyers welcomed the sentencing option, which allowed them to suggest appropriate penalties for clients.
"It means that offenders who would most likely otherwise go to prison are able to stay in the community and stay working," Alexandra lawyer Tim Cadogan said.
Community detention works like a strict curfew, with offenders released from their homes to attend work while electronically monitored.
Those on community detention are monitored throughout the duration of the sentence, and are required to stay at a particular address while not at work.
Home detention requires an offender to remain at an approved residence at all times under electronic surveillance and close supervision by a probation officer.
