Truth in Sentencing

Pros and Cons

Roxabel Perez, Kate Hart & Stacy

Williams
CJA/204
September 18, 2014
Clifton Scott Franklin
1

Truth in Sentencing Law

First enacted in 1984,requires
offenders to serve a substantial portion
of their prison sentence. Often applied
to violent offenders.
2

WILL SERVE 85% OF YOUR SENTENCE!!

Pros in Truth in Sentencing

Sentencing

reduction benefited

offenders
Offenders need to serve 85% of
their sentence
Restricted past laws
Loss of freedom form society
Citizens feel safe for a little while
Justice was served
4

Pros
Giving

time to think

Trades
Education
Classes

to help with solving their

problems
Healing process

Cons in Truth in
Sentencing
Outraged

Victims
Percentage on sentencing could
be based on maximum of
minimum sentences.
Not all states uses this method
Causes prison expansion
New Prisons built
New Jails built
6

Cons..
Backlogs
Inmates

refusals
Death rates
Fights rates
Feeding cost
Repeat offenders

Reference

Bohm, R. M., & Haley, K. N. pg.346(2010). Introduction to

CRIMINAL JUSTICE (6th ed.). New York, NY: The McGraw-Hill.

http://definitions.uslegal.com/t/truth-in-sentencing/

http://nij.gov/journals/252/pages/sentencing.aspx

Joseph A. Colquitt Can Alabama

Handle the Truth (in Sentencing)?,60
Ala. L. Rev. 425 (2009)

aclu.procon.org>>sentencing/prisons

Neubauer,D.W.,& Fradella, H.F. pg.426(2011).Americas

Courts and the criminal justice system (10th ed.)Belmont,CA