Why do jail sentences get reduced?
1.) It reduced to five years because that’s the likelihood if the prisoner behaves and does not get in trouble. They don’t call it 5 years instead of 10 because it isn’t set in stone, in other words the prisoner could misbehave and stay the whole 10 years. 2.) Because prison is a terrible place and overcrowded. Giving prisoners longer sentences requires more money and more prisons. The US already has 24% of the world’s prison population. The Penal system is suppose to be about reform, and ensuring those who commit crimes don’t commit them again. Prison is not suppose to be a place for criminals to rot and die, but we are slowly becoming that way. Most societies with low crime rates have higher ethical standards for their prisoners. There is a famous quote taken from a holocaust survivor: “You can judge a society based on how well they treat their prisoners.” I think that is true. The US ranks among the highest in violent crimes. Yet, many will try to say more prisons and harsher punish
Technically speaking, “jail”sentences don’t get reduced. Just like federal prison time, “jail” time is day for day, meaning that if you are sentenced to 90 days in jail or five years in federal prison, that’s how long you serve. You are referring to state prison time, and yeas, that is commonly reduced considerably, wiith the inmate serving about 1/3 of the actual sentence. The stated reason for reducing a sentence is that is is an incentive for good behavior. In actuality, the reason is prison overcrowding. They cut sentences to get people out early, to make room for other prisoners.
i understand that the general public gets angry about credit for good behavior, but its actually a good thing (most of the time). We don’t have to spend as much money housing the offender’s in jail and it gives the offenders some incentive to “play nice”. Jail is already disgusting and terrible…you have to give the prisoners some privileges and something to look forward to, or it will be utter chaos because there would be on incentive to be good. Treating prisoners like caged animals only makes them act like it. I work in the criminal justice system and I am by no means advocating a hotel stay for prisoners, but the current system is obviously not working (recidivism rates are as high as ever) so why would more harsh treatment and longer sentences change anything?
it’s because our jails are extremely overcrowded…time off for good behavior is another way to get people out quicker….you can’t just give someone additional time unless they commit a crime while in prison and the adjudication process still has to follow….they would still have to be tried and convicted….i always thought that sentences needed to be tougher to deter people from committing the crimes in the first place…
Lots of “excuses” and reasons. 1) Liberal Judges 2) Revolving door on jail cells (Meaning, we never really get rid of them. They leave for a few months or years, then do another crime and get sent back) 3) We don’t really do anything to help them while they are in prison – drug/alcohol rehab; job skills; anger management; etc.
