If your pending criminal charges likely come with a jail sentence, you are wise to explore ways to reduce your imprisonment time with good inmate behavior. This is exactly what Indiana’s Good Time Credit program offers inmates in exchange for cooperation and obedience while in jail.

Unfortunately, not everyone qualifies for Indiana’s Good Time Credit, as there are several strict and specific criteria inmates must meet to be granted a reduced prison sentence. But for those who do qualify, the benefits are significant. Not only can you reduce your 18 month sentence to a 9 month sentence, but you can get back into the world you know, making money, taking care of family, attending school and church and so much more.

Continue below to review some frequently asked questions about Indiana’s Good Time Credit, including who might or might not qualify and where to get started in Indianapolis.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Indiana’s Good Time Credit

What is Indiana’s Good Time Credit?

Indiana’s Good Time Credit allows eligible and approved inmates to get out of jail sooner than their original sentence length if they exhibit good behavior. The amount of Good Time Credit that can be earned depends on the inmate’s level of offense. Indiana’s Good Time Credit terms and conditions can be found under Indiana Code 35-50-6-0.5. Good Time Credit should not be confused with other times of sentence-reducing credit time, such as accrued credit, vocational credit, rehabilitation program credit, house arrest credit, work release program credit, and educational credit.

Who is Eligible for Indiana’s Good Time Credit?

Those who have been given an executed sentence are on the brink of qualifying for Indiana’s Good Time Credit. Beyond executed sentences, it is the judge’s discretion to grant approval for Good Time Credit. Habitual offenders and violent offenders may be denied eligibility. Individuals who are sentenced as “credit restricted felons” do not qualify.

How Can I Earn Good Time Credit in Jail?

Earning Good Time Credit in jail starts and ends with good behavior. Inmates must adhere to all rules and regulations, avoid confrontations, stay away from criminal activity, and participate in healthy activities, like exercise, schooling, vocational programs, and more. Depending on the level of offense an inmate is serving, they may be assigned Credit Class A through Credit Class P, which can accrue them days off their sentence with good behavior.

Credit Class A:
Class A Misdemeanors and Level 6 Felonies
▶ 1 Good Time Day for Every 1 Accrued Day
▶ Potential to Reduce Sentence By 50%

Credit Class B:
Level 1 – 5 Felonies
▶ 1 Good Time Day for Every 3 Accrued Days
▶ Potential to Reduce Sentence By 25%

Credit Class C:
Any Charge Level – Generally inmates are moved from Class A or B to Class C as punishment for bad behavior.
▶ 1 Good Time Day for Every 6 Accrued Days
▶ Potential to Reduce Sentence By 14.3%

Credit Class D:
Any Charge Level – Generally inmates are moved from Class A, B, or C to Class D as punishment for bad behavior.
▶ No Good Time Days
▶ No Potential to Reduce Sentence

Credit Class P:
Any Charge Level – Assigned to defendants awaiting trial while on home detention. Convicted persons do not qualify.
▶ 1 Good Time Day for Every 4 Accrued Days
▶ Potential to Earn Up to 25 Days Toward Executed Sentence

Am I Free After Being Released From Jail on Good Time Credit?

After being released from jail on an executed sentence based on Good Time Credit, you are not yet free from the law’s grip. Individuals will still have to report to a probation or parole office on a regular basis, pass routine drug and alcohol screens, participate in court-ordered programs (community service, rehab, etc.), pay all fines, maintain full-time employment, and more. You may also be subjected to a curfew, housing requirements, and mandatory job placement, plus have your drivers’ license suspended and your firearm rights taken away. Typically, probation or parole lasts between 1 and 5 years, depending on the criminal history and level of offense.

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!

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.

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