The invention is directed to a system for distributing contacts to a plurality of resources in a contact center, comprising at least one resource 104 for serving contacts 114; at least a first set 110 of contacts 114 awaiting service by the at least one resource 104, wherein each of the contacts in the first set 110 of contacts 114 has a corresponding state 140; and a selection agent 132 operable to assign a resource 104 to serve the contact 114 when a contact in the first set 110 of contacts has a first state and not assign the resource 104 to serve the contact 114 when a contact 114 in the first set of contacts 110 has a second state that is different from the first state. A state monitor 128 can be used to change the state of a contact between the first and second states.