Do state laws such as truth in sentencing give judges adequate latitude in crafting sentences?
I believe Truth in Sentencing does provide sufficient latitude in sentencing. If anything, it provides too much latitude to the sentencing court, because it allows the court to set the defendants release date many years in the future. If the purpose of the incarceration is to simply remove the offender from the community for many years, then allowing this type of discretion is wholly appropriate. If, on the other hand, the purpose of the incarceration is to rehabilitate the defendant, then this latitude is less than ideal, because it assumes that the court will know exactly when the defendant may be safely released many years in the future.
