[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 10 (Thursday, January 25, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S572]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DORGAN (for himself and Mr. Craig):
  S. 184. A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to eliminate 
good time credits for prisoners serving a sentence for a crime of 
violence, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  S. 185. A bill to provide incentives to encourage stronger truth in 
sentencing of violent offenders, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I offer legislation today that would 
strengthen our Trust in Sentencing guidelines and limit the ability of 
violent criminals to be released early due to ``good time'' credits.
  Let me tell you why we need these bills. If you commit murder in this 
country, on average, you are going to be sentenced to about 21 years in 
jail but that criminal will serve, on average, only 10 years behind 
bars.
  Most people will be startled to hear that. And why is this the case? 
Because people are let out early. Murderers go to prison, and they get 
``good time,'' time off for good behavior: If you want to get out 
early, just be good in prison, and we will put you back on the streets. 
A murderer can get credit for good behavior. That sounds like an 
oxymoron to me.
  And what happens when you are put back on the streets? You read the 
stories. These people commit crimes again. They rape or they rob or 
they kill. They molest children. They repeat their crimes.
  I am introducing legislation today, along with my friend Senator 
Craig of Idaho to address this problem. The point of it is very simple. 
I believe that in the criminal justice system we ought to have 
different standards for those who commit acts of violence. Everyone in 
this country who commits acts of violence ought to understand: You go 
to prison, and your address is going to be your jail cell until the end 
of your sentence.
  I do not mind early release for nonviolent offenders. If prison 
officials want to use ``good time'' as a management tool for nonviolent 
criminals, fine. But for violent offenders, we ought to have a society 
in which everyone understands: If you commit an act of violence, the 
prison cell is your address to the end of your sentence. No good time 
off for good behavior, no getting back to the streets early. You are 
going to be in prison to serve your term. My legislation says, this is 
an important standard for state and federal prisons.
  We know the current system isn't working. Too many violent offenders 
are sent back to America's streets. There is a way to stop that. My 
legislation will do so.
                                 ______