Why might some offenders decide to "max out" their prison sentence? Give an example of how "maxing out" can negatively affect society.

What will be an ideal response?


Varies. Some offenders might view prison time as being less of a hassle than having to fill all the requirements of parole and supervision in a community. As a result, they decide to "max out" or serve their entire sentence and thus get an unconditional release. Also, offenders may have no intention of ending their criminal behavior and thus prefer to avoid the additional scrutiny and surveillance of postrelease supervision. While in prison, inmates can continue to receive good-time credits, which reduce the overall length of the sentence. Therefore, by staying behind bars, they hasten their final release. When they are released, they will have freedom from all forms of correctional control. "Maxing out" can negatively affect society because many of the prisoners who "max out" have committed the most severe crimes. As a result, if they are released with no supervision, they have a golden opportunity to commit the same crimes again.

Criminal Justice

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