Most people are shocked when they first discover that inmates don't really serve the sentences they are given. Because of the "good time" credits they earn and other incentives, even violent felons can get out in less than half the time they are sentenced to. So this seems like a good idea:
State prison inmates would be required to serve 85 percent of their sentences under legislation the House approved Monday night.
The provision by Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Howe, was added as an amendment to a bill that would prohibit inmates from receiving early release credits for earning both a GED and a high school diploma while in prison. The amendment was approved 62-32, and the overall bill is now eligible for a vote in the House. If approved by a Wednesday midnight deadline for bills to clear their house of origin, it would be sent to the Senate.
It might be useful to keep some mechanism with which the less-violent offenders can earn early release. But I don't see what major objection there'd be to making violent felons serve 85 percent of their time, except, maybe, Win Moses' point that it might cost a lot more than we realize.
