Real-Life Math -- Solution
You're in your office figuring out when offenders will be eligible
for parole.
Part A
Sam was put in jail on Dec. 14
for robbery. He was in jail until his trial. He was found guilty and has been
sent to jail for two years. However, you note that the conviction date was
the following Feb. 19.
December = 31 days
- 14 = 17 days
January = 31 days
February = 19 days
17 +
31 + 19 = 67 days
Sam was in jail for 67 days before
being convicted.
2 years = 730 days
730
- 67 = 663 days
Sam will have to spend 663 days in
jail.
Part B
Marie has been convicted of murder and
was sentenced to 25 years in jail. She's now finished two-thirds of her sentence.
25
x 2/3 = 16.67 years
She has spent 16.67 years in
jail.
25 - 16.67 = 8.33
She
may be on parole for a maximum of 8.33 more years because her parole, added
to her time served, isn't allowed to exceed the time of her initial sentence.
Part
C
You know that offenders in your state generally only serve 85
percent of their sentence behind bars. If this person's sentence is five years,
how long will it be before he may be released from prison?
5
x 0.85 = 4.25
It will be 4.25 years before he may
be released from prison.
Parole officer Tara Tomasi says that math was
her least favorite subject in school, "bar none!" So she understands if you
don't love numbers. But she does say that while math doesn't play a significant
role in the job, it does come into play sometimes.
"For example, if
an offender requests a quick calculation of his upcoming release dates, a
parole officer can quickly do the math to provide the offender with an estimated
date," she says.