Truth In Sentencing: Availability of Federal Grants Influenced Laws in Some States

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed truth-in-sentencing (TIS) laws, focusing on: (1) the number of states that have enacted TIS laws that meet the federal grant eligibility requirements; (2) whether the availability of federal grants was a factor in these states' decisions to enact TIS laws; and (3) reasons why other states have not enacted TIS laws that meet the federal grant requirements.