In Rhode Island, after a defendant has been sentenced to serve time at the Adult Correctional Institute (“ACI”), they generally become eligible to receive a good time. Good time, as the name suggests, is credit given to an inmate for good behavior while in prison. This credit is in the form of actual days shaven off of an inmate’s sentence. The more good time an inmate accrues, the shorter their sentence becomes. In addition to a good time, an inmate can earn more days off of their sentence by working while in prison and going to school. RIGL Section 42-56-24 provides in pertinent part that:
“For all prisoners serving sentences of more than one month, and not serving a sentence of imprisonment for life or a sentence imposed for a violation of the offenses identified in subsection (a) or (b) the director, or his or her designee, shall keep a record of the conduct of each prisoner, and for each month that prisoner has faithfully observed all the rules and requirements of the institutions and has not been subjected to discipline, there shall, with the consent of the director of the department of corrections or his or her designee and upon recommendation by the assistant director of institutions/operations, be deducted from the term or terms of sentence of that prisoner ten (10) days for each month’s good behavior.
For every day a prisoner shall be shut up or otherwise disciplined for bad conduct, as determined by the assistant director, institutions/operations, subject to the authority of the director, there shall be deducted one day from the time he or she shall have gained for good conduct.
The assistant director, or his or her designee, subject to the authority of the director, shall have the power to restore lost good conduct time in whole or in part upon a showing by the prisoner of subsequent good behavior and disposition to reform.
For each month that a prisoner who has been sentenced to imprisonment for more than one month and not under sentence to imprisonment for life who has faithfully engaged in institutional industries there shall, with the consent of the director, upon the recommendations to him or her by the assistant director, institutions/operations, be deducted from the term or terms of the prisoner an additional two (2) days a month.
Except those prisoners serving a sentence imposed for violation of subsection (a) or (b), for each month that a prisoner who has been sentenced to imprisonment for more than one month and not under sentence to imprisonment for life has participated faithfully in programs that have been determined by the director or his/her designee to address that prisoner’s individual needs that are related to his/her criminal behavior, there may, with the consent of the director and upon the recommendation of the assistant director, rehabilitative services, be deducted from the term or terms of the prisoner up to an additional five (5) days a month. Furthermore, whenever the prisoner has successfully completed such program, they may; with the consent of the director and upon the recommendation by the assistant director, rehabilitative services, be deducted from the term or terms of the prisoner up to an additional thirty (30) days.”
Have You Or A Loved-One Been Sentenced To Prison?
If you or someone you know has been sentenced to serve time at the ACI, call an attorney that can position you or your loved one for an early release. Whether it be via parole or a good time, attorney Noah Kilroy has the experience to help you navigate the system. Contact our office today.
