Are truth-in-sentencing laws a good idea?

No they were a political ploy for politicians to get a few extra votes. Australian prisons are poorly run and have horrendous re-offend rates. politicians jump on or drive a band wagon every time an election looms claiming that they can make life wonderful and safe for all law abiding people by making life harder for people that have committed a crime. it seems that they are wrong as nothing has changed. and in country's where there is an active effort to change the point of view and the choices that prisoners have there is a reduction in crimes committed by those that were once prisoners. The penal system is here because it should make life better and safer for all of us, not so politicians can score cheap points.