after a percentage of the sentence had been served and your parole eligibility was effected by good behavior. So you were eligible much earlier, but it was much more discretionary.

In that time, the sentences handed out were done by judges who understood the parole eligibility and good behavior timelines and typically sentenced accordingly. Parole board had (and still has for those in prison for offenses committed back when there was parole) discretion to grant parole or not. Typically offenders received much longer sentence because everyone knew they would be eligible for parole after serving only a portion of that time.

VA did away with parole years ago (1995 I believe) and now only has the 4.5 days credit for 30 good days - straight system with basically no discretion, no parole board to look at the inmates record, etc and make any choice. Judges now sentence accordingly, giving overall shorter sentences knowing that the majority of the time has to be served.

Really, as long as the judges understand the system (and they all do) and apply it reasonably, either way works. Now there is just less incentive to have good behavior while in prison or to do things to make yourself look better for the parole board (i.e. get additional education). Flip is there isn't discretion to be applied (and potentially abused) by the parole board.


[Post edited by RML Hoos at 04/26/2018 4:18PM]