NCJ Number
139603
Journal
Corrections Compendium Volume: 15 Issue: 4 Dated: (May 1990) Pages: 1,4-11
Date Published
1990
Length
9 pages
Annotation
Good time allowance can significantly affect an inmate's date of release from prison, provides a necessary incentive to prison administrators seeking ways to relieve overcrowding, and causes complex recordkeeping problems.
Abstract
In a survey of 47 State prison systems, 43 had statutes providing some kind of good time off sentences; the amount of time prisoners can receive off their sentences varied greatly. Good time falls into three general categories: statutory or good behavior time, earned or extra earned good time, and meritorious time. Good time earned is applied to an inmate's parole eligibility date in 19 States and to the discharge date in 35 States. Good time is usually credited in two ways -- application of good behavior time upon entry and earned good time as earned. Reported problems with good time programs include scarce staff time resources, disagreements with inmates over calculations, and legislative differences affecting inmates. 1 table