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What happens if you have good behavior in jail?

Author

Daniel Santos

Updated on February 02, 2026

Answer: Many prisoners can get time off—that is, a reduction in sentence—by behaving well. In the federal system, prisoners who, in the judgment of the Bureau of Prisons, have exhibited “exemplary compliance with institutional disciplinary regulations” can get up to 54 days per year off their sentences.

Do you get credit for good behavior in federal prison?

All incarcerated persons, other than those serving a life sentence, are eligible for good time credit. Section 3624(b) so that federal prisoners can earn up to 54 days of good time credit for every year of their imposed sentence rather than for every year of their sentenced served.

Do prisoners get time off for good Behaviour?

Contrary to popular myth and belief there is no such thing as ‘time off for good behaviour’. A prisoner will never be released earlier than their conditional release date (with the exception of those released on HDC or under the ERS).

How much can a sentence be reduced for good behavior?

Good behavior credit can actually reduce the sentence by up to 54 days every year in some jurisdictions. Good time credit is available for individuals serving a sentence in federal prison.

What is 85 of a 5 year sentence?

Eighty-five percent of 5 years is 4.25 years or 4 years and 3 months.

What are good days in jail?

“Good time” — also called “earned time,” “meritorious credit,” or similar — is a system by which people in prison can earn time off their sentences. States award time “credits” to incarcerated individuals to shorten the time they must serve before becoming parole-eligible or completing their sentences altogether.

How many months is a year in federal prison?

§ 3624(b)? A: Federal prisoners serving a “term of imprisonment” of more than one year (at least 12 months and one day) and less than life in prison are eligible to earn good time. Only federal prisoners are eligible for good time under 18 U.S.C. § 3624(b).

What is 85% of a 3 year sentence?

So technically, 85% of 3 years translates to: 2 years, 6 months, 18 days.

Where do prisoners go after being released?

After leaving prison, most inmates do not go directly home but instead go to a transitional facility known as a halfway house. As the name implies, it is not prison and it most certainly in not home, but it is closer to home. These are all operated by private companies under the supervision of the BOP.

Why do people get credit for good behavior in prison?

In recent years, prison watchers say good-behavior credit has been increasingly used to alleviate overcrowding, with wardens sometimes releasing poorly behaved prisoners under the “good time” system just to get them out of the way. Critics argue that the system grants individual prison officials too much discretion over an inmate’s sentence.

Can you get time off from prison for good behavior?

In federal prison, you can get “time off for good behavior.” If you are found to be in “exemplary compliance with institutional disciplinary regulations,” you can earn up to 54 days off your sentence each year. Stated simply, obey all the rules and make yourself a model prisoner.

Do you get credit for one day served in prison?

When a person is sentenced to state prison for a crime, they will receive one day credit for every one day served. In other words a person who is sentenced to state prison will do 50% of their sentence when you subtract credit for good behavior and work. There are however exceptions to this rule.

How does rewarding prisoners for Good Behavior benefit the state?

Rewarding prisoners for good behavior by time off or parole is beneficial to the state because prisoners behave better and the length of time they serve in prison declines, both of which lower prison costs, he said. Polinsky noted that in Ohio the cost of taking care of an average prisoner is $62 a day.