Indiana Good Time Credit: How Inmates Can Reduce Prison Sentences
If you or a loved one is facing prison time in Indiana, understanding how good time credit works can make a significant difference in the actual time served. Indiana's credit time system allows incarcerated individuals to reduce their sentences through good behavior and educational achievements, potentially cutting years off a prison term.
The distinction between earning maximum credit time and losing it can mean the difference between early release and serving a full sentence. This guide explains how Indiana's good time credit laws work under Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 35-50-6-3 and related statutes, what credit time classes exist, how credits are earned and lost, and what restrictions apply. Whether you're preparing for sentencing or have a family member currently incarcerated, understanding these laws is crucial for planning ahead and maximizing opportunities for early release.
What Is Good Time Credit in Indiana?
Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 35-50-6-3 and Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 35-50-6-4 establish Indiana's system of credit time that allows individuals imprisoned for crimes to earn reductions to their sentences. This system is designed to incentivize good behavior, compliance with institutional rules, and participation in rehabilitative programs during incarceration. Good time credit directly reduces the amount of time an individual must serve before becoming eligible for release.
The credit time system operates by assigning each incarcerated person to a specific "class" based on their offense and conviction date. Each class earns credit at different rates, ranging from one day of credit for each day served to no credit at all. Understanding which class applies to your situation is the first step in calculating potential release dates and planning for life after incarceration.
Good time credit is not automatic. It must be earned through compliance with Department of Corrections rules, facility regulations, and program requirements. Lost credit time can add months or years to a sentence, making it essential to understand how the system works from the moment incarceration begins. For individuals and families throughout Indiana, this knowledge can be the difference between earlier reunification and extended separation.
How Good Time Credit Is Earned: Understanding Credit Time Classes
The rate at which an incarcerated individual earns good time credit depends on their assigned credit time class, which is determined by the date of their offense. Indiana law changed significantly on July 1, 2014, creating two different classification systems.
Pre-July 1, 2014 Offenses: Class I Through IV
For crimes committed before July 1, 2014, Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 35-50-6-3 establishes four credit time classes. Class I earns one day of good time credit for each calendar day of imprisonment, effectively allowing an individual to serve half their sentence if all credit is maintained. Class II earns one day of credit for every two calendar days served, while Class IV earns one day of credit for every six calendar days of imprisonment. Class III earns no good time credit at all.
The class assignment depends on the nature and severity of the offense. More serious violent crimes typically result in lower credit earning potential, while less serious offenses may qualify for Class I status. This classification affects not just release dates but also planning for family contact, employment preparation, and reintegration into society.
Post-June 30, 2014 Offenses: Class A Through D
For offenses committed after June 30, 2014, Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 35-50-6-3.1 created an updated classification system with Classes A through D. Class A maintains the highest earning rate at one day of credit for each calendar day served. Class B earns one day of credit for every three calendar days of imprisonment, and Class C earns one day for every six calendar days. Class D, like the previous Class III, earns no good time credit.
This newer system reflects legislative changes in sentencing philosophy and provides slightly different earning rates than the pre-2014 system. Understanding which system applies to your case requires knowing the exact date of the offense, not the conviction date or sentencing date. An Evansville criminal defense attorney can help you determine your credit time class and calculate potential release dates based on your specific circumstances.
Questions about your credit time class assignment? Contact our office at (812) 301-6221 to discuss your case with an experienced criminal defense attorney who understands Indiana's sentencing laws.
Educational Credit Time: Earning Additional Sentence Reduction
Beyond standard good time credit, Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 35-50-6-3.3 provides an additional opportunity for individuals in certain credit classes to earn educational credit by completing specific educational achievements while incarcerated. This provision recognizes the value of education in reducing recidivism and preparing individuals for successful reintegration.
Individuals assigned to Class I, Class A, or Class B may earn educational credit by obtaining a GED, high school diploma, associate degree, or bachelor's degree during their incarceration. The maximum educational credit that can be earned is the lesser of two years or one-third of the total applicable credit time. This means that in addition to standard good time credit, qualifying individuals can potentially reduce their sentences by up to two additional years through educational achievement.
However, important restrictions apply to educational credit time. Individuals convicted of certain violent offenses or felonies may have their educational credit reduced to ensure at least 45 days remain before release or community transition. This 45-day buffer, outlined in Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 35-50-6-3.3, prevents immediate release after earning educational credit and allows time for release planning and preparation.
Educational credit time represents a meaningful opportunity for those serving longer sentences. Pursuing education while incarcerated not only reduces time served but also improves employment prospects after release and demonstrates commitment to rehabilitation.
How Good Time Credit Can Be Lost
While earning good time credit can reduce sentences, losing earned credit can extend incarceration significantly. Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 35-50-6-5 and Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 11-11-5-3 outline the circumstances under which credit time may be forfeited.
Rule Violations and Disciplinary Actions
Credit time may be lost for violations of Department of Correction rules, penal facility rules, or program conditions. These violations can range from minor infractions to serious misconduct. Before credit time can be deprived, Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 11-11-5-3 requires that a hearing be held to determine guilt and the appropriateness of the penalty. This procedural safeguard ensures that individuals have an opportunity to contest allegations and present their case.
The amount of credit time lost depends on the severity of the violation. Some infractions may result in the loss of days or weeks of earned credit, while serious violations can result in the loss of months or even reassignment to a lower credit time class. A reassignment from Class A to Class C, for example, would dramatically slow the rate at which future credit is earned, potentially adding years to the actual time served.
Additional Causes of Credit Time Loss
Beyond disciplinary violations, credit time can also be lost for filing frivolous lawsuits or refusing to register as a sex offender or violent offender when required by law. These provisions discourage abuse of the legal system and ensure compliance with important public safety requirements.
The Department of Correction has broad authority under Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 11-11-5-3 and Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 35-50-6-7 to reassign individuals to lower credit time classes or deprive them of earned credit as a disciplinary measure. This authority underscores the importance of maintaining good behavior and compliance throughout incarceration. For family members of incarcerated individuals in Indiana, understanding these risks can help in providing support and guidance to maintain earned credit time.
Restoration of Lost Credit Time
Not all lost credit time is permanently forfeited. Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 11-11-5-3 and Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 35-50-6-7 provide that lost credit time may be restored at the discretion of the Department of Correction under certain circumstances.
Restoration is most commonly granted when an individual is found not guilty of alleged misconduct after a disciplinary hearing. If credit time was deprived based on charges that are later determined to be unfounded, the DOC may restore the lost credit. Restoration may also be considered when an individual demonstrates consistent good behavior over an extended period following a violation.
However, restoration is discretionary, not automatic. The DOC evaluates each request for restoration based on the individual's overall conduct record, the nature of the original violation, and the time elapsed since the violation occurred. There is no guarantee that lost credit will be restored, even with exemplary subsequent behavior. This reality makes preventing credit time loss in the first place critically important.
For individuals seeking restoration of lost credit time, documenting good behavior, participation in programs, and positive conduct reports can strengthen a restoration request. Family members and advocates can also play a role by understanding the restoration process and supporting their loved one's efforts to demonstrate rehabilitation. Our office can provide guidance on navigating DOC policies and advocating for fair treatment under Indiana's credit time laws.
Violent Offense Restrictions on Credit Time
Individuals convicted of violent offenses face additional restrictions on earning and applying credit time under Indiana law. Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 35-50-6-3.3 specifically addresses these limitations, particularly regarding educational credit time.
For individuals convicted of violent offenses listed under IC 11-8-8-5, educational credit cannot result in release or community transition within 45 days of earning the credit. This means that even if an individual completes a bachelor's degree and earns two years of educational credit, that credit cannot be applied if it would result in release within 45 days of degree completion. The 45-day buffer ensures that violent offenders undergo proper release planning and preparation before returning to the community.
This restriction recognizes the heightened public safety concerns associated with violent offenses while still allowing these individuals to pursue education and rehabilitation. The 45-day rule applies only to educational credit time, not to standard good time credit earned through daily compliance with institutional rules. However, individuals convicted of certain violent offenses may also be assigned to lower credit time classes overall, reducing their standard earning rate.
What to Know Before Sentencing: Planning for Credit Time
Understanding good time credit laws is most valuable before sentencing occurs. While an attorney cannot change the credit time class assigned by statute to specific offenses, knowing how credit time will affect actual time served can inform critical decisions about plea agreements, sentencing recommendations, and long-term planning.
When facing criminal charges in Indiana, consider these important questions about credit time. What credit time class applies to the charged offense? If multiple charges are pending, how will plea negotiations affect your credit time status? Are you eligible for educational credit time, and what programs are available in the facility where you'll likely be housed? What conduct rules must you follow to maintain earned credit?
Calculating potential release dates requires understanding not just the imposed sentence but also the applicable credit time earning rate and any restrictions that apply. For example, a ten-year sentence in Class A could result in release after five years if all good time credit is maintained, while the same sentence in Class C would require serving approximately eight and a half years. These differences significantly impact family planning, employment considerations, and reintegration preparation.
Common Questions About Indiana Good Time Credit
Can Good Time Credit Be Applied Retroactively?
No, the credit time class and earning rate applicable to your sentence is determined by the date of the offense, not the date of conviction or sentencing. Changes to credit time laws do not apply retroactively to offenses committed before the law changed. This means individuals sentenced for pre-2014 offenses remain under the Class I through IV system even if sentenced after 2014.
Does Good Time Credit Apply to County Jail Time?
Good time credit calculations primarily apply to Department of Correction sentences, not county jail time served while awaiting trial. However, time served in county jail before sentencing is credited against the total sentence. The good time credit then applies to the remaining sentence after accounting for time already served.
Can You Earn Good Time Credit While on Community Transition?
Community transition programs (such as work release or home detention) are governed by separate rules. While individuals on community transition must maintain compliance with program rules, the earning of additional good time credit during community transition may be limited. Violating community transition rules, however, can result in return to incarceration and loss of previously earned credit.
What Happens to Good Time Credit If You're Convicted of a New Crime While Incarcerated?
A conviction for a new offense committed while incarcerated can result in both the loss of previously earned good time credit and assignment to a lower credit time class for the new sentence. This dramatically extends total time served and underscores the serious consequences of institutional misconduct that rises to the level of criminal charges.
Why Choose Jerry L. Garner Law Office for Criminal Defense
As a retired FBI agent with 23 years of experience in federal law enforcement, I bring a unique perspective to criminal defense that includes deep knowledge of how cases are built and prosecuted. This experience allows me to identify weaknesses in the prosecution's case and develop effective defense strategies. My understanding of Indiana's sentencing laws, including credit time provisions, ensures clients receive comprehensive guidance throughout the criminal justice process.
Our personalized approach means we take time to understand each client's unique circumstances and goals. We recognize that every case is different, and we tailor our strategies accordingly. We serve clients throughout Evansville, Rockport, Tell City, Boonville, and surrounding Southern Indiana communities. We're available by phone, email, text, and online chat, and we offer financing and credit card payment options to make quality legal representation accessible.
Our services include:
Comprehensive sentencing advocacy and credit time analysis
Defense against criminal charges at all felony and misdemeanor levels
Guidance on maintaining credit time during incarceration
Post-conviction relief and appeals when appropriate
Contact Us for Experienced Criminal Defense in Indiana
Don't navigate Indiana's complex criminal justice system alone. Whether you're facing charges and need to understand how sentencing will affect you, or you have questions about credit time for someone currently incarcerated, our office can provide the guidance you need. We serve clients throughout Evansville, Rockport, Tell City, Boonville, and Southern Indiana. Call (812) 301-6221 to schedule a consultation and discuss your case with an experienced criminal defense attorney who understands both sides of the criminal justice system.
Time is critical when facing criminal charges or dealing with credit time issues. The decisions you make now can affect years of your life or your loved one's incarceration. Our office offers flexible payment options and is available through multiple contact methods to ensure you can access the legal help you need. Don't wait to get answers about how Indiana's good time credit laws apply to your situation.
Remember: Understanding and maintaining good time credit can significantly reduce time served in Indiana prisons, but credit time can be lost through rule violations or other misconduct. Early planning and compliance with institutional rules are essential for maximizing sentence reduction opportunities.
This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific circumstances. Contact our office to discuss your particular situation.
