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Could (and should?) expanded good-time credits help reverse mass incarceration?

By Douglas A. Berman

The question in the title of this post is inspired by this effective local article from Washington state, which is headlined "Will the State Bring Back Half-Off Sentences for Good Behavior?".  The piece highlights that in most states it is budget woes, rather than concerns about mass incarceration, that is helping to generate a policy debate concerning how much of a sentence reduction a prisoner should be able to earn for good behavior while behind bars.  Here are excerpts: A revival of the 50-percent-off provision for well-behaved inmates in the prison system is likely in January as the state?s budget situation grows increasingly dire.  Rep. Sherry Appleton, D-Poulsbo, said she has ?no doubt? that lawmakers will discuss the provision, which allows inmates serving time for non-violent offenses half off their sentence for good behavior...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on October 10, 2010 (boomark / email).