If you have just been convicted of a crime that is punishable by jail time, you should be interested in all the ways you can significantly reduce your stay in jail. Continue below to learn how Indiana’s Good Time Credit program can help inmates get out of jail faster, plus who can assist you with an imprisonment plan that can ensure you are not kept in jail a day longer than you have to.

Indiana’s Good Time Credit

Just because your criminal conviction hands down a prison or jail sentence does not mean that you are stuck with it. It is possible to reduce your jail sentence through something known as Good Time Credit.  Indiana’s Good Time Credit program is a valuable incentive for inmates to cooperate and exhibit responsible, productive behavior while in jail.

Why is this program an incentive to anyone in jail? Because if inmates are approved upon good behavior, they can be granted a lesser or shorter jail sentence. For instance, someone sentenced to a year in jail may only serve 6 or 7 months with good time credit. Sound too good to be true? You might be asking, “what’s the catch?” Well, not everyone qualifies for Indiana’s Good Time Credit program.

How to Qualify for Time Served Credit

Indiana’s Good Time Credit is decreed under Indiana Code 35-50-6, which basically describes under which conditions an inmate can earn days of good credit, and ultimately, an early release from jail or prison. The amount of good time credit an inmate can accrue will depend on their level of criminal charge (Misdemeanor or Felony) and the specific details of their sentence.

Those who are most likely to qualify are inmates convicted of misdemeanors or low level felonies and give an executed sentence. An executed sentence is one in which an inmate is ordered to serve both jail and prison time, or also house arrest and work release programs.

Earning good time credit in jail works by following all the rules and cooperating with jail staff and court orders. Basically, if an inmate is polite, cooperative, responsible, and productive within the realm of their assigned jail duties or educational classes, they can earn a day of good credit for every number of days they demonstrate this good behavior.

Inmates must refrain from any disciplinary actions or infractions during their time in jail in order to qualify. In addition to good behavior and productivity, inmates may be ordered to complete rehabilitation classes for substance abuse. So long as they work the program as ordered, they can earn good time credit.

If an inmate is cited for bad behavior or disciplined for an infraction, any good time credit earned can be deducted. As mentioned before, Indiana’s Good Time Credit is an effective incentive for inmates to behave in order to get out of jail faster.

What to Expect After Being Released From Jail Early

After an inmate is released from jail after earning Good Time Credit, they are not entirely free from the court’s custody. An inmate sentence will continue under the terms of probation or parole. During this time, an inmate will continue to be subjected to regular checkups by their assigned probation or parole officer, drug screenings, alcohol testing, random searches, mandatory job placement and supervision, curfew requirements, license suspensions, loss of firearm rights, and possible home detention.

Are you looking for criminal defense attorney who can help you understand your rights to getting out of jail faster after being convicted of a crime in Indiana? Contact Attorney David E. Lewis at 317-636-7514 to speak with a seasoned criminal defense lawyer in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our legal team can help you obtain the best possible outcome to your criminal matters!

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