How Good Behavior Can Reduce a Federal Sentence

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Last Updated on: 2nd October 2023, 11:28 pm

How Good Behavior Can Reduce a Federal Sentence

Getting sentenced to federal prison can be an incredibly scary and overwhelming experience. Knowing that you’ll be locked up for months or years far away from your family and friends is hard to accept. But there is a small bit of hope – by exhibiting good behavior while incarcerated, you may be able to shave some time off your sentence and get released early.

The federal prison system has a program that rewards prisoners for following the rules and avoiding trouble. It’s called “good conduct time” or “good time credit.” Here’s how it works and what you need to do to take advantage of it.

What Is Good Conduct Time?

Good conduct time is a sentence reduction that prisoners can earn for maintaining good behavior and complying with prison rules and regulations. The basic idea is to incentivize prisoners to behave well and engage in positive activities by shortening their sentences. This benefits both the prisoners and the prison system.

For federal prisoners serving more than one year, the good time credit is up to 54 days per year. That means for each year you serve without getting into trouble, you can get 54 days knocked off your total sentence. So if you’re sentenced to 5 years, and don’t cause any problems, you could get out 270 days early.

The time off is awarded at the end of each year you serve, on the anniversary date. It’s prorated if you serve a partial year at the end of your sentence. For example, if you serve 1 year and 3 months, you’d get 54 days off after the first year, and then a prorated amount for the extra 3 months.

This may not seem like a lot, but every day less in prison can make a big difference. For long sentences, it can shave off a significant chunk of time. The time off is applied to the full sentence, including any suspended part.

Who Is Eligible for Good Time Credit?

To be eligible for good conduct time in the federal system, you must meet these criteria:

• Sentenced to more than 1 year in prison – a sentence of exactly 1 year does not qualify
• Serving time in a federal prison operated by the Bureau of Prisons
• Has not lost good conduct time due to disciplinary infractions

Prisoners serving life sentences are not eligible for good time credits. But most other federal inmates can qualify if they behave well and avoid disciplinary issues.

How Is Good Behavior Defined?

The key to earning your full good time credit is maintaining “exemplary compliance with institutional disciplinary regulations” according to federal law. Essentially, that means following all the prison rules and avoiding any disciplinary infractions.

Here are some examples of good behavior in prison:

• Following orders and directions from staff
• Being respectful towards staff and other prisoners
• Keeping your cell and living area clean and orderly
• Being on time and prepared for roll calls, meals, work assignments, etc.
• Not getting into fights or altercations with others
• Not possessing any prohibited items like weapons or drugs
• Not trying to sneak in contraband
• Not engaging in gang-related activities
• Following all safety and security rules and procedures

Basically, if you can follow the prison rules, get along with others, and avoid any prohibited behaviors, you’ll be exhibiting good conduct. It goes beyond just staying out of trouble – you need to be an active, cooperative participant in the prison community.

How Can Good Behavior Be Documented?

Prison staff keep track of each inmate’s behavior through regular progress reports and program participation records. These provide documentation of your conduct over time.

Here are some examples of records that can demonstrate good behavior:

• Incident reports – Lack of serious disciplinary incident reports shows compliance
• Housing unit reports – Documentation of cell cleanliness, following rules, etc.
• Work performance reviews – Positive reviews from work supervisors
• Program participation logs – Active participation in rehabilitation programs
• Progress reports – Periodic staff reviews of overall conduct

Having a “clean” record with no disciplinary issues is the first step. But you can also ask staff to note positive things like program involvement, cell cleanliness, and work ethic in your file. This creates a paper trail documenting your good behavior.

How Can You Lose Good Conduct Time?

If you commit disciplinary infractions while incarcerated, you risk losing some or all of your accrued good conduct time. Prison staff have a lot of discretion in this area.

Some examples of behaviors that could result in loss of good time include:

• Assault or fighting with others
• Possession of drugs, weapons or other contraband
• Destroying property or vandalism
• Disobeying orders from staff
• Disrupting the security of the facility
• Trying to escape or assist others in escaping
• Engaging in sexual acts
• Making threats or extorting others
• Gang-related activities
• Lying to staff

The list could go on and on. Basically anything that threatens security, safety or orderly operation of the prison could cost you good time. Even minor infractions like being untidy, missing work, or disrespect can add up.

The amount of good time taken away depends on the severity and frequency of the offenses. But remember, it can take just one serious incident to wipe out months or years of accrued credits. It’s easy to lose good time, so be very cautious.

How Does the Time Off Get Applied?

Good conduct time is not automatically applied to your sentence. You have to be approved for release by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP).

Here is the process:

1. At each anniversary of your prison term, the credited good time is logged and documented.
2. Shortly before your release date, prison staff will complete a progress report and review your behavior record.
3. The warden will approve a release date that reflects any good time credits you have earned.
4. The BOP will issue a release authorization approving you for early release.
5. You will be released on that earlier date, unless the authorization is rescinded.

So good behavior helps move up your release date, but you still have to “pass” the review process. Having a clean record improves your chances tremendously.

How Else Can You Get a Sentence Reduction?

Good conduct time is not the only way to potentially get your federal sentence reduced. Here are some other options:

• Cooperation with the government – Providing “substantial assistance” to prosecutors or investigators in other cases can prompt a motion to reduce your sentence.
• Compassionate release – Elderly or terminally ill prisoners can request early release on medical grounds. [1]
• Clemency petition – You can request the President grant you clemency, but this is very rare. [2]
• Retroactive law changes – If sentencing laws change after your conviction, it could retroactively reduce your sentence.
• Court appeal – You can appeal your conviction or sentence and potentially have it overturned or reduced.

Talk to your case manager or lawyer to learn if any of these options could apply to your situation. But for most prisoners, good behavior early release is the most solid path to shorter time.

Tips for Earning Your Full Good Time Credit

Here are some practical tips to help you maintain good behavior and qualify for the maximum allowable time off:

• Know the rules and follow them – read the inmate handbook and follow all regulations
• Keep busy – get a prison job, join programs, avoid too much idle time
• Stay away from troublemakers – avoid gangs and don’t get involved in disputes
• Communicate respectfully – always be polite with staff and say “sir/ma’am”
• Manage emotions – don’t act on anger, frustration or grievances
• Don’t gamble or take risks – play it safe at all times
• Keep your area clean – make your bunk and keep a neat cube
• Further your education – take classes to improve yourself
• Build a record – document achievements, progress, good deeds
• Be patient and consistent – good behavior requires daily effort

With consistent, patient effort, you can avoid the traps that cause most disciplinary issues. Stay focused on keeping your record clean day after day.

The Bottom Line

Good behavior early release can take weeks or months off a federal prison sentence. While the time reduction may seem small, it can still make a big difference – especially on longer sentences. Avoiding trouble requires diligence and self-control, but the payoff makes it very worthwhile.

For most inmates, earning time off for good conduct is the clearest path to earlier freedom. If you can maintain exemplary compliance with all regulations and avoid disciplinary issues, you’ll be able to take advantage of this incentive program.

While incarcerated, staying focused on your release date and keeping your record clean is the smartest thing you can do. With consistent good behavior, you can shave precious time off your sentence and get back home to your family and community faster.