Whats' "Good Time"?

Question

My uncle's friend is in jail. I think he was sentenced 12-25 or something like that. He's served almost half his sentence now. We heard he can get out earlier with "Good Time". What is that? If you're a good guy your sentence had be shortened?

Answer 1

"Good time" is time in prison spent without breaking rules. Some incarceration centers may add to that definition, but for the most part, that's pretty much what it is.

In other words, if you end up in jail, and during your time in jail you don't break any rules and you are a model inmate (don't show any disrespect toward the guards, etc.), then you've accumulated "good time".

How good time is tracked depends on which incarceration center you're talking about. Some centers may use a points system, others may have other means. Some centers also reward good inmates with various perks, such as extra time out of the cell, ability to leave the center for work, and other things.

Good time is also used by parole boards as one criterion in determining if someone should be given parole. If good time is part of the sentence definition, then early release could also be recommended.

But being a good inmate doesn't mean he's going to get out early. He has to be recommended for early release either to a parole board or to the sentencing judge (or another judge if the sentencing judge no longer sits on the bench), who must then approve the early release.

In either case, any victims, or victims' families or advocates, will be given the chance to contest the early release, just as they are given the chance to contest a parole recommendation.