Truth in sentencing

Truth in sentencing

Truth in sentencing (TIS) is a collection of different but related public policy stances on sentencing of those convicted of crimes in the justice system. In most contexts truth in sentencing refers to policies and legislation that aim to abolish or curb parole, so that convicts serve the period that they have been sentenced to. Truth in sentencing advocates relate such policies in terms of the public's right to know; they argue, for example, that it is deceptive to sentence an individual to "seven to nine years" and then release the individual after he or she has served only six years.

In some cases, truth in sentencing is linked to other movements, such as mandatory minimum sentencing (in which particular crimes yield automatic sentences no matter what the extenuating circumstances), and habitual offender or "three strikes" laws (in which state law requires the state courts to hand down mandatory and extended periods of incarceration to persons who have been convicted of a criminal offense on multiple occasions).

In the United States, federal laws currently requires that those convicted of federal crimes serve a "substantial portion" of their original sentence. This is achieved by eliminating or restricting paroles and/or time off for good behavior. The first law requiring TIS was passed in 1984, and a number of states now have them. In 1994, a federal TIS law was passed. To qualify for TIS federal funding, offenders must serve 85 percent of their sentence for qualifying crimes. As of 1998 the District of Columbia and 27 states qualify for this additional funding.

External links

* [http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/tssp.htm Truth in Sentencing in State Prisons - US Bureau of Justice Statistics]
* [http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/tssp.pdf Bureau of Justices Statistics Special Report]
* [http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=277059 Tougher sentencing law carries hefty price]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • truth in sentencing — noun NSW a government policy that prisoners should serve a substantial part of their original sentences without remissions. {coined by the Greiner government in office in NSW in 1988} …  

  • Sentencing (The Wire episode) — Infobox The Wire episode caption = episode name = Sentencing episode no = 13 epigraph = All in the game. Traditional West Baltimore teleplay = story = writer = David Simon and Ed Burns director = Tim Van Patten guest star = see below prod code =… …   Wikipedia

  • Truth and Reconciliation Commission (South Korea) — South Korea s Truth and Reconciliation Commission ( ko. 진실·화해를 위한 과거사 정리 위원회) is a commission established on December 1, 2005, to investigate historical incidents in Korean history, such as the Japanese rule of Korea. The body has investigated… …   Wikipedia

  • Oklahoma Sentencing Commission — Agency overview Formed 1997 Preceding agencies Sentencing and Release Policy Committee Truth in Sentencing Policy Advisory Commission Dissolved August 26, 2009 Superseding agency Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation …   Wikipedia

  • Criminal sentencing in Canada — This article is about criminal sentencing in Canada. For a world wide view, see sentence (law). In Canada, a judge sentences a person after they have been found guilty of a crime (which is not the same as being convicted of the crime).[1] After a …   Wikipedia

  • Oregon Ballot Measure 11 (1994) — Measure 11 was a citizens initiative passed in 1994 in the U.S. State of Oregon. This statutory enactment established mandatory minimum sentencing for several crimes. The measure was approved in the November 8, 1994 general election with 788,695… …   Wikipedia

  • State and Local Affairs — ▪ 1997 Introduction       States continued to be at the centre of national debates on public policy during 1996. The U.S. Congress, reacting in part to successful experimentation by a number of states, enacted a historic welfare reform measure… …   Universalium

  • Parole board — A parole board is a panel of people who decide whether an offender should be released from prison on parole after serving at least a minimum portion of their sentence as prescribed by the sentencing judge. Parole boards are used in many… …   Wikipedia

  • parole — parolable, adj. /peuh rohl /, n., v., paroled, paroling, adj. n. 1. Penol. a. the conditional release of a person from prison prior to the end of the maximum sentence imposed. b. such release or its duration. c. an official document authorizing… …   Universalium

  • Frank Keating — Infobox Governor name= Frank Keating imagesize = 200px order= 25th office= Governor of Oklahoma term start= January 11, 1995 term end= January 13, 2003 lieutenant= Mary Fallin predecessor= David Walters successor= Brad Henry birth date= birth… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”