diff --git a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/jsr/item/CheckpointSupport.java b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/jsr/item/CheckpointSupport.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..21128be15
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/jsr/item/CheckpointSupport.java
@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2013 the original author or authors.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package org.springframework.batch.jsr.item;
+
+import java.io.ByteArrayInputStream;
+import java.io.ByteArrayOutputStream;
+import java.io.ObjectInputStream;
+import java.io.ObjectOutputStream;
+import java.io.Serializable;
+
+import javax.batch.api.chunk.ItemReader;
+import javax.batch.api.chunk.ItemWriter;
+
+import org.apache.commons.logging.Log;
+import org.apache.commons.logging.LogFactory;
+import org.springframework.batch.item.ExecutionContext;
+import org.springframework.batch.item.ItemStreamException;
+import org.springframework.batch.item.ItemStreamSupport;
+import org.springframework.util.Assert;
+
+/**
+ * Provides support for JSR-352 checkpointing.  Checkpoint objects are copied prior
+ * to being added to the {@link ExecutionContext} for persistence by the framework.
+ * If the checkpoint object cannot be copied and further changes occur to the same
+ * instance, side effects may occur.  In cases like this, it is recommended that a
+ * copy of the object being acted upon in the reader/writer is returned via the
+ * {@link ItemReader#checkpointInfo()} or {@link ItemWriter#checkpointInfo()} calls.
+ *
+ * @author Michael Minella
+ * @since 3.0
+ */
+public abstract class CheckpointSupport extends ItemStreamSupport{
+
+	private final Log logger = LogFactory.getLog(this.getClass());
+
+	private final String checkpointKey;
+
+	/**
+	 * @param checkpointKey key to store the checkpoint object with in the {@link ExecutionContext}
+	 */
+	public CheckpointSupport(String checkpointKey) {
+		Assert.hasText(checkpointKey);
+		this.checkpointKey = checkpointKey;
+	}
+
+	/* (non-Javadoc)
+	 * @see org.springframework.batch.item.ItemStreamSupport#open(org.springframework.batch.item.ExecutionContext)
+	 */
+	@Override
+	public void open(ExecutionContext executionContext)
+			throws ItemStreamException {
+		try {
+			doOpen((Serializable) executionContext.get(getExecutionContextKey(checkpointKey)));
+		} catch (Exception e) {
+			throw new ItemStreamException(e);
+		}
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Used to open a batch artifact with previously saved checkpoint information.
+	 *
+	 * @param checkpoint previously saved checkpoint object
+	 * @throws Exception
+	 */
+	protected abstract void doOpen(Serializable checkpoint) throws Exception;
+
+	/* (non-Javadoc)
+	 * @see org.springframework.batch.item.ItemStreamSupport#update(org.springframework.batch.item.ExecutionContext)
+	 */
+	@Override
+	public void update(ExecutionContext executionContext)
+			throws ItemStreamException {
+		try {
+			executionContext.put(getExecutionContextKey(checkpointKey), deepCopy(doCheckpoint()));
+		} catch (Exception e) {
+			throw new ItemStreamException(e);
+		}
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Used to provide a {@link Serializable} representing the current state of the
+	 * batch artifact.
+	 *
+	 * @return the current state of the batch artifact
+	 * @throws Exception
+	 */
+	protected abstract Serializable doCheckpoint() throws Exception;
+
+	/* (non-Javadoc)
+	 * @see org.springframework.batch.item.ItemStreamSupport#close()
+	 */
+	@Override
+	public void close() throws ItemStreamException {
+		try {
+			doClose();
+		} catch (Exception e) {
+			throw new ItemStreamException(e);
+		}
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Used to close the underlying batch artifact
+	 *
+	 * @throws Exception
+	 */
+	protected abstract void doClose() throws Exception;
+
+	private Object deepCopy(Serializable orig) {
+		Object obj = orig;
+
+		try {
+			ByteArrayOutputStream bos = new ByteArrayOutputStream();
+			ObjectOutputStream out = new ObjectOutputStream(bos);
+			out.writeObject(orig);
+			out.flush();
+			out.close();
+
+			ObjectInputStream in = new ObjectInputStream(new ByteArrayInputStream(bos.toByteArray()));
+			obj = in.readObject();
+		} catch (Exception e) {
+			logger.warn("Unable to copy checkpoint object.  Updating the instance passed may cause side effects");
+		}
+
+		return obj;
+	}
+
+}
diff --git a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/jsr/item/ItemReaderAdapter.java b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/jsr/item/ItemReaderAdapter.java
index 5bef0cf8b..134f82931 100644
--- a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/jsr/item/ItemReaderAdapter.java
+++ b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/jsr/item/ItemReaderAdapter.java
@@ -1,64 +1,84 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2013 the original author or authors.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
 package org.springframework.batch.jsr.item;
 
 import java.io.Serializable;
 
 import javax.batch.api.chunk.ItemReader;
 
-import org.springframework.batch.item.ExecutionContext;
-import org.springframework.batch.item.ItemStreamException;
-import org.springframework.batch.item.ItemStreamSupport;
 import org.springframework.batch.item.NonTransientResourceException;
 import org.springframework.batch.item.ParseException;
 import org.springframework.batch.item.UnexpectedInputException;
 import org.springframework.util.Assert;
 import org.springframework.util.ClassUtils;
 
+/**
+ * Adapter that wraps an {@link ItemReader} for use by Spring Batch.  All calls are delegated as appropriate
+ * to the corresponding method on the delegate.
+ *
+ * @author Michael Minella
+ * @since 3.0
+ */
 @SuppressWarnings("rawtypes")
-public class ItemReaderAdapter extends ItemStreamSupport implements org.springframework.batch.item.ItemReader {
+public class ItemReaderAdapter extends CheckpointSupport implements org.springframework.batch.item.ItemReader {
 
 	private static final String CHECKPOINT_KEY = "reader.checkpoint";
 
 	private ItemReader delegate;
 
+	/**
+	 * @param reader the {@link ItemReader} implementation to delegate to
+	 */
 	public ItemReaderAdapter(ItemReader reader) {
+		super(CHECKPOINT_KEY);
 		Assert.notNull(reader, "An ItemReader implementation is required");
 		this.delegate = reader;
 		setExecutionContextName(ClassUtils.getShortName(delegate.getClass()));
 	}
 
-	@Override
-	public void open(ExecutionContext executionContext)
-			throws ItemStreamException {
-		try {
-			delegate.open((Serializable) executionContext.get(getExecutionContextKey(CHECKPOINT_KEY)));
-		} catch (Exception e) {
-			throw new ItemStreamException(e);
-		}
-	}
-
-	@Override
-	public void update(ExecutionContext executionContext)
-			throws ItemStreamException {
-		try {
-			Serializable checkpoint = delegate.checkpointInfo();
-			executionContext.put(getExecutionContextKey(CHECKPOINT_KEY), checkpoint);
-		} catch (Exception e) {
-			throw new ItemStreamException(e);
-		}
-	}
-
-	@Override
-	public void close() throws ItemStreamException {
-		try {
-			delegate.close();
-		} catch (Exception e) {
-			throw new ItemStreamException(e);
-		}
-	}
-
+	/* (non-Javadoc)
+	 * @see org.springframework.batch.item.ItemReader#read()
+	 */
 	@Override
 	public Object read() throws Exception, UnexpectedInputException, ParseException,
 	NonTransientResourceException {
 		return delegate.readItem();
 	}
+
+	/* (non-Javadoc)
+	 * @see org.springframework.batch.jsr.item.CheckpointSupport#doClose()
+	 */
+	@Override
+	protected void doClose() throws Exception{
+		delegate.close();
+	}
+
+	/* (non-Javadoc)
+	 * @see org.springframework.batch.jsr.item.CheckpointSupport#doCheckpoint()
+	 */
+	@Override
+	protected Serializable doCheckpoint() throws Exception {
+		return delegate.checkpointInfo();
+	}
+
+	/* (non-Javadoc)
+	 * @see org.springframework.batch.jsr.item.CheckpointSupport#doOpen(java.io.Serializable)
+	 */
+	@Override
+	protected void doOpen(Serializable checkpoint) throws Exception {
+		delegate.open(checkpoint);
+	}
 }
diff --git a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/jsr/item/ItemWriterAdapter.java b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/jsr/item/ItemWriterAdapter.java
index fc54b7f21..1e976e8d6 100644
--- a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/jsr/item/ItemWriterAdapter.java
+++ b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/jsr/item/ItemWriterAdapter.java
@@ -1,3 +1,18 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2013 the original author or authors.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
 package org.springframework.batch.jsr.item;
 
 import java.io.Serializable;
@@ -5,58 +20,64 @@ import java.util.List;
 
 import javax.batch.api.chunk.ItemWriter;
 
-import org.springframework.batch.item.ExecutionContext;
-import org.springframework.batch.item.ItemStreamException;
-import org.springframework.batch.item.ItemStreamSupport;
 import org.springframework.util.Assert;
 import org.springframework.util.ClassUtils;
 
+/**
+ * Adapter that wraps an {@link ItemWriter} for use by Spring Batch.  All calls are delegated as appropriate
+ * to the corresponding method on the delegate.
+ *
+ * @author Michael Minella
+ * @since 3.0
+ */
 @SuppressWarnings("rawtypes")
-public class ItemWriterAdapter extends ItemStreamSupport implements org.springframework.batch.item.ItemWriter {
+public class ItemWriterAdapter extends CheckpointSupport implements org.springframework.batch.item.ItemWriter {
 
 	private static final String CHECKPOINT_KEY = "writer.checkpoint";
 
 	private ItemWriter delegate;
 
+	/**
+	 * @param writer a {@link ItemWriter} to delegate calls to
+	 */
 	public ItemWriterAdapter(ItemWriter writer) {
+		super(CHECKPOINT_KEY);
 		Assert.notNull(writer, "An ItemWriter implementation is required");
 		this.delegate = writer;
 		super.setExecutionContextName(ClassUtils.getShortName(delegate.getClass()));
 	}
 
-	@Override
-	public void open(ExecutionContext executionContext)
-			throws ItemStreamException {
-		try {
-			delegate.open((Serializable) executionContext.get(getExecutionContextKey(CHECKPOINT_KEY)));
-		} catch (Exception e) {
-			throw new ItemStreamException(e);
-		}
-	}
-
-	@Override
-	public void update(ExecutionContext executionContext)
-			throws ItemStreamException {
-		try {
-			Serializable checkpoint = delegate.checkpointInfo();
-			executionContext.put(getExecutionContextKey(CHECKPOINT_KEY), checkpoint);
-		} catch (Exception e) {
-			throw new ItemStreamException(e);
-		}
-	}
-
-	@Override
-	public void close() throws ItemStreamException {
-		try {
-			delegate.close();
-		} catch (Exception e) {
-			throw new ItemStreamException(e);
-		}
-	}
-
+	/* (non-Javadoc)
+	 * @see org.springframework.batch.item.ItemWriter#write(java.util.List)
+	 */
 	@Override
 	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
 	public void write(List items) throws Exception {
 		delegate.writeItems(items);
 	}
+
+	/* (non-Javadoc)
+	 * @see org.springframework.batch.jsr.item.CheckpointSupport#doOpen(java.io.Serializable)
+	 */
+	@Override
+	protected void doOpen(Serializable checkpoint) throws Exception {
+		delegate.open(checkpoint);
+	}
+
+	/* (non-Javadoc)
+	 * @see org.springframework.batch.jsr.item.CheckpointSupport#doCheckpoint()
+	 */
+	@Override
+	protected Serializable doCheckpoint() throws Exception {
+		Serializable checkpointInfo = delegate.checkpointInfo();
+		return checkpointInfo;
+	}
+
+	/* (non-Javadoc)
+	 * @see org.springframework.batch.jsr.item.CheckpointSupport#doClose()
+	 */
+	@Override
+	protected void doClose() throws Exception{
+		delegate.close();
+	}
 }
diff --git a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/jsr/item/ItemReaderAdapterTests.java b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/jsr/item/ItemReaderAdapterTests.java
index 9f9e4e95c..cf934c059 100644
--- a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/jsr/item/ItemReaderAdapterTests.java
+++ b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/jsr/item/ItemReaderAdapterTests.java
@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@ import static org.mockito.Mockito.doThrow;
 import static org.mockito.Mockito.verify;
 import static org.mockito.Mockito.when;
 
+import java.io.Serializable;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.List;
+
 import javax.batch.api.chunk.ItemReader;
 
 import org.junit.Before;
@@ -88,4 +92,79 @@ public class ItemReaderAdapterTests {
 
 		assertEquals("item", adapter.read());
 	}
+
+	@Test
+	@SuppressWarnings("serial")
+	public void testCheckpointChange() throws Exception {
+		ItemReaderAdapter adapter = new ItemReaderAdapter(new ItemReader() {
+
+			private CheckpointContainer container = null;
+			private List<String> items = new ArrayList<String>() {{
+				add("foo");
+				add("bar");
+				add("baz");
+			}};
+
+			@Override
+			public Object readItem() throws Exception {
+				int index = container.getCount();
+
+				if(index < items.size()) {
+					container.setCount(index + 1);
+					return items.get(index);
+				} else {
+					return null;
+				}
+			}
+
+			@Override
+			public void open(Serializable checkpoint) throws Exception {
+				container = new CheckpointContainer();
+			}
+
+			@Override
+			public void close() throws Exception {
+			}
+
+			@Override
+			public Serializable checkpointInfo() throws Exception {
+				return container;
+			}
+		});
+
+		ExecutionContext context = new ExecutionContext();
+
+		adapter.open(context);
+		adapter.read();
+		adapter.read();
+		adapter.update(context);
+		adapter.read();
+		adapter.close();
+
+		CheckpointContainer container = (CheckpointContainer) context.get("ItemReaderAdapterTests.1.reader.checkpoint");
+		assertEquals(2, container.getCount());
+
+	}
+
+	public static class CheckpointContainer implements Serializable{
+		private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+		private int count;
+
+		public CheckpointContainer() {
+			count = 0;
+		}
+
+		public int getCount() {
+			return count;
+		}
+
+		public void setCount(int count) {
+			this.count = count;
+		}
+
+		@Override
+		public String toString() {
+			return "CheckpointContinaer has a count of " + count;
+		}
+	}
 }
diff --git a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/jsr/item/ItemWriterAdapterTests.java b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/jsr/item/ItemWriterAdapterTests.java
index 248281703..8f53fb74a 100644
--- a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/jsr/item/ItemWriterAdapterTests.java
+++ b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/jsr/item/ItemWriterAdapterTests.java
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 package org.springframework.batch.jsr.item;
 
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
 import static org.mockito.Mockito.doThrow;
 import static org.mockito.Mockito.verify;
 import static org.mockito.Mockito.when;
 
+import java.io.Serializable;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
 
@@ -96,4 +98,70 @@ public class ItemWriterAdapterTests {
 
 		verify(delegate).writeItems(items);
 	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testCheckpointChange() throws Exception {
+		ItemWriterAdapter adapter = new ItemWriterAdapter(new ItemWriter() {
+
+			private CheckpointContainer container = null;
+
+			@Override
+			public void open(Serializable checkpoint) throws Exception {
+				container = new CheckpointContainer();
+			}
+
+			@Override
+			public void close() throws Exception {
+			}
+
+			@Override
+			public void writeItems(List<Object> items) throws Exception {
+				container.setCount(container.getCount() + items.size());
+			}
+
+			@Override
+			public Serializable checkpointInfo() throws Exception {
+				return container;
+			}
+		});
+
+		ExecutionContext context = new ExecutionContext();
+
+		List<String> items = new ArrayList<String>();
+		items.add("foo");
+		items.add("bar");
+		items.add("baz");
+		adapter.open(context);
+		adapter.write(items);
+		adapter.update(context);
+		adapter.write(items);
+		adapter.close();
+
+		CheckpointContainer container = (CheckpointContainer) context.get("ItemWriterAdapterTests.1.writer.checkpoint");
+		assertEquals(3, container.getCount());
+
+	}
+
+	public static class CheckpointContainer implements Serializable{
+		private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+		private int count;
+
+		public CheckpointContainer() {
+			count = 0;
+		}
+
+		public int getCount() {
+			return count;
+		}
+
+		public void setCount(int count) {
+			this.count = count;
+		}
+
+		@Override
+		public String toString() {
+			return "CheckpointContinaer has a count of " + count;
+		}
+	}
 }