How Good Behavior in Prison Can Help Secure Early Release in NYC

How Good Behavior in Prison Can Help Secure Early Release in NYC

Going to prison is scary. Being locked up and away from your family and friends is hard. But if you keep your head down and behave yourself, you might just get out early.

New York State has a few programs that let people earn time off their sentence for good behavior. The two main ones are good time credits and merit time. This article explains how they work so you can get home quicker.

Good Time Credits

Good time credits let you take time off your minimum sentence for following the rules and participating in programs. Different types of inmates can earn different amounts of good time:

• People serving time for drug offenses can get 1/3 off their minimum sentence
• Other non-violent offenders can get 1/6 off
• Violent felons can get 1/7 off

So if you’re in on a drug charge with a 6 year minimum, you could get out in 4 years with good behavior. The credits are automatic as long as you don’t mess up.

You used to lose good time for getting a ticket, but that changed in 2011. Now they can only take it away if you’re convicted of a prison offense at a disciplinary hearing. So stay out of trouble!

Merit Time

Merit time lets you take even more time off your sentence by completing programs and activities. Unlike good time, you have to earn merit time – it’s not automatic.

Here are some of the programs that make you eligible for merit time:

• Alcohol and substance abuse treatment – Earn up to 6 months off
• Earning a GED or associate’s degree – 1/6 off your minimum
• Completing vocational training – Earn up to 6 months off
• Finishing aggression replacement training – Earn up to 6 months off

To get the full merit time credit, you need to complete all the program requirements and demonstrate good behavior. And you can stack merit time on top of your good time credits!

How Much Time Can You Really Take Off?

Between good time and merit time credits, non-violent inmates can shave off around 50% of their minimum sentence. Violent felons can cut maybe 25% off their minimum.

But here’s the catch – it only applies to your minimum sentence, not the whole thing. Say you get 6-12 years for robbery. The minimum is 6 years, but the judge can make you serve up to 12. Good time only cuts your minimum, so you could max out at 9 years instead of 12.

The parole board still has to approve your release, even if you earn all your time off. There are no guarantees with parole. But good behavior shows you’re ready to go home, so do your programs and stay out of trouble!

Temporary Release Programs

New York also has some temporary release programs that let you spend part of your sentence at home or in the community:

• Work release – Leaves prison during the day for a job, then returns at night
• Furloughs – Get to go home for 3-7 days in a row, usually for a family reason
• Community supervision – Last 6-12 months of sentence served under curfew at home

These programs are only for inmates with good behavior who are close to finishing their minimum sentence. They help people transition back to normal life. Be a model inmate and you could qualify.

Getting Time Off Federal Sentences

The programs above are for people serving New York State sentences. If you’re in federal prison, the process is similar but a little different.

Federal inmates can earn up to 54 days of good time per year off their sentence for following the rules. That’s about 15% off your total sentence.

You can also complete programs like drug treatment or vocational training to earn sentence reductions. Talk to your counselor about what’s available.

The federal system also has halfway houses to transition back into the community. Be on your best behavior and you’ll have a good chance at finishing your time early.

What If I Mess Up?

We all make mistakes. If you slip up and get a ticket, it doesn’t mean you’ll lose all your good time. Minor infractions usually don’t affect your credits.

But repeated violations and serious offenses like assault can cost you good time. If you do lose credits, you can earn them back by staying clean for a period of time.

Try your best to walk the line so you can take advantage of these early release programs. It’s hard, but focus on getting home to your family.

Conclusion

Prison life is tough, but good behavior can literally pay off with sentence reductions. Focus on bettering yourself through programs so you can get back to your life sooner.

Stay patient, follow the rules, and keep your chin up knowing there’s light at the end of the tunnel. You’ll be back home before you know it.