Opinion ID: 1532443
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 14

Heading: Truth-in-Sentencing Act

Text: The most comprehensive legislative revision of the Delaware statutory sentencing system was the Truth-in-Sentencing Act of 1989, which became effective in 1990. Under the Truth-in-Sentencing Act, a sentence of Level V incarceration for any crime committed after June 29, 1990 is no longer subject to the parole provisions of section 4346. That is, beginning in 1990, the General Assembly prospectively abolished parole as a basis for early release from Level V incarceration for any post-June 29, 1990 crime. [86] Although the 1989 Truth-in-Sentencing Act completely eliminated parole for crimes committed after its effective date, that statutory enactment continued generally to permit conditional release for good time credit. The Truth-in-Sentencing Act thus provides that: All sentences imposed for any offenses other than a life sentence imposed for class A felonies may be reduced by earned good time under the provisions of this section and rules and regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Corrections. [87] Thus, for crimes committed after June 29, 1990, the reduction of a sentence by earned good time would result in conditional release under section 4348 for eligible inmates.