Truth in Sentencing

The amount of jail time actually served. instead of the amount of time they are given. There is a difference. They do not serve all the time given

Truth-In-Sentencing

CJS 200

February 05, 2012

Truth-In-Sentencing

The criminal was given a number of years to serve for their crime, but it relied on the parole board’s discretion to decide their length of stay. They could get time off for good-behavior and be released early. They could also be given longer terms if they mis-behaved in prison. “The defendant shall serve not less than five and not more than twenty-five years in the state’s prison, under the supervision of the state department of correction.” That wording exhibited an indeterminate sentence (Criminal Justice Today, P. 377).

In the 1970”s all 50 states started using a structured form of sentence. They decided that they should be given a percentage of time to serve based on the crime and how violent it was. In Chapter 11 of, Criminal Justice Today, P 379, they show the offense type and percentage of time to serve, Violent was 51%, Property was 46%, Drug was 46%, Public-order was 49%.

The truth-in-sentencing laws took the power away from the parole board and gave it back to the sentencing judge to release and reduce their sentencing guidelines. This law requires that they serve at least 85% of their time in jail before they can come before a parole board or the judge to ask to be put on parole. This law keeps more criminals in prison and the victims know how long they will be in jail. The Victims are notified when they are eligible to come up for parole and they can write letters or go before the parole board and object .

The U.S. Department of Justice , Office of Justice Programs (January 1999), released a report that...