|
|
| Is the minimum prison sentence really the minimum? |
| By mlive.com - Barton Deiters |
| Published: 10/25/2011 |
|
When it comes to sentences being handed down by judges, one of the most enduring ideas is that the sentence length rarely reflects the reality of time behind bars. “He was sentenced to 20 year, but he'll only do 10,” is typical of the sentiment reflected in court hallways and online comments at MLive.com. A decade ago, the concept of good time for prisoners was a reality. Kent County Circuit Court Chief Judge Donald Johnston described the Michigan Department of Corrections formula for calculating good time as an “arcane art.” Prisoners who stayed reasonably within prison rules were deemed eligible for “good time.” “It started out as a fairly straight forward formula, but over the length of the sentence, the good time calculations accelerated,” Johnston said. He said there were people whose job consisted of little else other than working out the calculations. Under the former calculations, developed in the 1970s, offenders often would get sentences that would result in spending around half that time in prison. But that changed in 1998 when a bill introduced by former State Sen. William Van Regenmorter, R-Georgetown Township, introduced what is popularly referred to as “truth-in-sentencing.” Van Regenmorter was well known for his passage of law and order legislation that included those aimed at demystifying the justice system for victims of crime. Under truth-in-sentencing, the minimum sentence set by a judge would be the least amount of time a convicted felon would spend behind bars. If a person received a sentence of 20 years to life, the Michigan Department of Corrections would evaluate when – after 20 years – the inmate would be freed from prison. “As a practical matter, offenders are not released at their first parole hearing,” said Johnston. “Some are never released.” Read More. |
Comments:
Login to let us know what you think
MARKETPLACE search vendors | advanced search
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
|
Have you been searching for people online and coming up short. If you are looking for an individual named Hamilton Lindley then check out his mylife page. It’s got low down on Hamilton Lindley and many others!