The "Traditional" Indeterminate Sentencing Model

This article discusses the traditional American "indeterminate" sentencing systems, which are still used in approximately half the states in America. It shows that the parole boards hold most of the authority with regards to the lengths of most prison terms. It then summarizes the current knowledge on these systems, and records some of the differences across systems. This article concludes that there is no basis with which to form policy judgments of "worse" or "practices".