Sentence Reduction — Ask the Inmate
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.
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
Read moreRDAP and testifying (snitching) are the only two ways to cut time off of your sentence in federal. If you are eligible, you should definitely transfer to a women's camp that does have RDAP because it is worth it. I took it and got a full year off of my sentence.
Read moreThere 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.
Read moreGood 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.
Read moreYes, 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.
Read more180 days is hardly a sentence.
Read moreAll 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.
Read moreInmates 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
Read moreIf he has a release date, that is the outdate - unless he does something untoward that causes him to get jacked-up for more time. Once the release date is posted, it would include any good time accrued.
Read moreThe judge has nothing to do with the allocation of good time. The good time credits are set by the State's Justice Department. If the program you speak of offers a sentence reduction for successful completion, tit doesnt matter what the judge wants, they hold zero power over the Department of Corrections as they follow their internal procedures. I know this sounds harsh, but a 16-month sentence is a joke compared to the time we've all done - he'll be fine
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