Every day served inside is a day that cannot be recovered. Understanding every legal and programmatic tool available to reduce a sentence is essential knowledge for any inmate and their family. The federal system offers multiple pathways, standard good time credits, First Step Act earned time credits through programming, RDAP sentence reduction of up to 12 months, compassionate release for qualifying medical conditions, and substantial assistance motions filed by the government. State systems have their own tools including good time credits that vary dramatically from 15 percent to 67 percent depending on the state. This section covers all of these pathways in plain language, who qualifies for each, how they interact with each other, and what realistic expectations look like for different situations. The guidance here is practical and honest about what is available and what is not. See also our sections on RDAP, First Step Act, Parole and Probation, and Post Conviction Appeals.
Subject: Sentence reduction
Federal inmates can earn time credits by successfully participating in approved recidivism reduction programs and productive activities. The earning rate depends on the inmate's risk level as assessed by the PATTERN tool.
Low and minimum-risk inmates earn 15 days of credit for every 30 days of successful program participation. Medium and high-risk inmates earn 10 days of credit for every 30 days of participation.
The New Calculation Standard-Late 2025
In late 2025 the Bureau of Prisons introduced the FSA Conditional Placement Date, also...
Read moreSubject: Sentence reduction
In the federal system, the options for actually cutting time off your sentence are narrow. RDAP and substantial assistance to the government, which means cooperating with prosecutors and testifying against others, are the two primary mechanisms. Everything else, good behavior, programming, education courses, keeps you out of trouble and protects your release date but does not shorten the sentence itself.
If RDAP is not available at Aliceville's satellite camp, that is worth addressing before you report. If you have any documented...
Read moreSubject: Sentence reduction
There are some institutions that reward trustees with some extra good time, but that isn't necessarily the norm. We cannot name one that does but have heard there are some, somewhere.
Subject: Sentence reduction
Good time is granted at the beginning of the sentence and can only get lessened if the inmate gets into trouble and has it taken away. If you are a federal inmate, there is a program that can take one year off their sentence if they qualify. It is called RDAP - the inmate would need to have a pre-existing drug or alcohol issue prior to incarceration.
Subject: Sentence reduction
Yes, the 85% is in effect and there isn't anything you can do to change that. There are some programs in other states that might shave off a few months, but we are not privy to any for the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
Subject: Sentence reduction
180 days is hardly a sentence.
Subject: Sentence reduction
All inmates receive "good time credits" when they begin their sentence. Usually, that is 15% and that is the most it can be, it can only lessen by bad behavior. The one way for early release is if the inmate has information about another crime or criminal enterprise that would lead to the prosecution and conviction of another. THAT is also called snitching (not recommended) and it could carry repercussions on the yard, but the weak-minded always look for a short cut.
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Read moreSubject: Sentence reduction
Inmates are credited for time that is spend in custody, whether it is for an hour in another county, that counts as "one day served". Therefore, the 90 days spent somewhere will definitely count towards his release date calculation
Subject: Sentence reduction
When a release date is posted in the system, that date already reflects everything working in his favor. Good time credits, program completions, and any other reductions the facility has applied are all factored in before that date gets set. The February 16 date is not a starting point for further negotiation. It is the finish line as it currently stands.
That said, the date is not completely fixed. It can move in either direction. If he picks up a disciplinary...
Read moreSubject: Sentence reduction
Unfortunately, there are no programs for early release for sex offender in the state of Maine. There are mandatory programs that the inmate must complete but none leads to a shortening of the sentence. Then there is the long probation period following release along with mandatory registration in the Sex Offender Registry that remains on their record forever. Here is a link to the ME DOC pdf that explains their program.
