What is good time credit in the US federal system?
Under 18 U.S.C. 3624(b), federal prisoners can earn up to 54 days of good time credit per year of sentence imposed. The First Step Act of 2018 increased this from 47 days to 54 days. Good time credit is earned for satisfactory behaviour and program participation. It reduces the time served before release to supervised release.
Do all federal prisoners earn good time credit?
Good time credit is available to most federal prisoners, but it is not automatic. Prisoners who commit disciplinary infractions can lose earned good time. Prisoners in certain programmes can also earn additional 'earned time credits' under the First Step Act -- up to 365 days of additional time off for completing approved reentry programmes.
How do First Step Act earned time credits differ from good time?
Good time credit (54 days/year) reduces time incarcerated. Earned time credits (ETCs) under the First Step Act are additional days that eligible prisoners earn by completing approved educational, vocational, or treatment programmes. ETCs can be applied toward early transfer to supervised release or pre-release custody (halfway house, home confinement).
Does good time credit apply in state prisons?
State good time rules vary widely. Most states have some form of sentence reduction for good behaviour, but the rates and eligibility criteria differ significantly. Some states (like Texas) have complex good time formulas; others have simple flat reductions. Violent offenders in states with 85% truth-in-sentencing laws earn minimal or no good time credit.