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
Programming and good behavior are the two most important things your cousin can do with the time she has left, and they absolutely matter to the people who make decisions about her future. Whether they directly reduce her sentence depends on how Pennsylvania's system handles good time credits and what release mechanisms are available to her specifically.
Pennsylvania's good time credit system is more limited than some other states. Unlike the federal system where good time is calculated and applied in...
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It is possible but uncommon, and understanding exactly how it could happen helps put the risk in proper perspective.
When a defendant appeals a sentence, the appellate court reviews whether the sentence was imposed correctly within the legal guidelines. In the vast majority of cases, an appellate court either upholds the sentence, reduces it, or sends the case back to the trial court for resentencing on a specific issue. What most people worry about is that last option.
If an appellate court...
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Work assignments are standard at virtually every jail and prison in the country. Inmates are expected to participate in some form of facility work as part of their daily routine, and Kitsap County Jail is no different.
Whether working earns additional good time credit beyond the standard one-third reduction is a facility-specific and state-specific question. Some state systems do offer enhanced good time for certain work assignments, particularly jobs that are physically demanding, understaffed, or that most inmates prefer to avoid....
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There are ongoing discussions and changes around drug sentencing, but they are usually broad policy changes, not something tied to a specific county like Greene County alone.
In recent years, federal officials such as Eric Holder have pushed for reforms to reduce sentences for certain non-violent drug offenders, especially those affected by mandatory minimum laws. However, these changes generally apply to federal cases, not automatically to state or county cases.
Here is what that means for your fiancé:
If his case is federal, changes in sentencing policy could potentially...
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Receiving a letter from the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles this early in a sentence is not unusual for non-violent offenders, and it is a positive sign, but it requires careful reading before drawing conclusions.
A tentative parole review date is exactly what the language says it is: tentative. It means the board has reviewed the case based on guideline settings, which are formula-driven calculations that take into account offense type, sentence length, good time credits, and other factors, and...
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The overall message is intended to seep into the state system however Holder is the AG where his jurisdiction is federal. The state courts do not sentence under the federal mandatory minimum. The first category of crimes that will benefit are the first time non-violent offenders. Habitual and violent criminals will not get the same "benefit of the doubt". The sentencing restructure is aimed eliminating draconian sentences for minor drug offenses - where they have in the past been sentencing...
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A 15-year federal sentence is 180 months. Here is how the actual time breaks down under federal law.
The federal system requires inmates to serve at least 85 percent of their sentence. The remaining 15 percent is allocated as good time credit up front, roughly 54 days per year of sentence imposed. That credit is not earned day by day. It is given at the start and can only be lost if your fiance makes serious disciplinary decisions while inside. Assuming...
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Six years into an 18-year sentence is a difficult place to be looking for relief, and the honest answer is that the options are limited. Most sentence reduction mechanisms work best when they are built into the case before or at the time of sentencing. That window has passed here, so what remains is narrower.
Here is a realistic look at what is still possible.
Substantial assistance to the government. The most significant sentence reduction available at this stage comes from cooperating...
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In a situation like this, where your fiancé was given a straight 6 month sentence after a probation revocation, there are usually very limited options for reducing that time.
Most of the time, the judge has already considered the circumstances and imposed a fixed sentence. That means there is typically no additional reduction available beyond standard good time credit, if the facility offers it. Good time is earned by staying out of trouble, following rules, and maintaining good behavior while in custody....
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Eligibility for a sentence reduction depends on the type of case, the jurisdiction, and the inmate’s conduct while in custody. There is no single rule that applies to everyone, but there are a few common ways sentences can be reduced.
Good behavior credits:
Most inmates earn time off for following rules and staying disciplinary-free. These credits are applied automatically over time and are already built into many projected release dates. You do not usually “apply” for this, it is earned consistently throughout...
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