| In recent years, many states halve enacted "truth-in-sentencing' laws chat require offenders to serve a majority of their prison sentences (often 85%; before they return to the community. These laws have been passed in part due to public outcry that offenders were serving only a small fraction of their sentences imposed by the court. Federal support for "truth-in-sentencing" is strong. As part of the 1994 crime bill. Violent Offender Incarceration and Truth-in-Sentencing (VOITIS) grants totaling hundreds of millions of dollars will be awarded to states with "truth-in-sentencing" laws it order to build prison beds for violent offenders. To date, 28 states have received truth-in-sentencing funds. RAND is conducting a three-year study funded by the National institute of justice to study the implementation and outcomes of VOITIS. This paper describes alternative strategies states have taken in responding to VOITIS, and the impact of these strategies on incarceration and crime rates. Data for the analysis are drawn from the National Corrections Reporting Program, U.S. Census, Uniform Crime Reports and interviews with state practitioners. |
Updated 05/20/2006