PART IV. DIMINUTION AND COMMUTATION

OF SENTENCE FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR

§571.3. Diminution of sentence for good behavior

A.(1) Every prisoner in a parish prison convicted of an offense and sentenced to imprisonment without hard labor, except a prisoner convicted a second time of a crime of violence as defined by R.S. 14:2(B), may earn a diminution of sentence, to be known as "good time", by good behavior and performance of work or self-improvement activities, or both. The amount of diminution of sentence allowed under this Paragraph shall be at the rate of thirty days for every thirty days in actual custody, except for a prisoner convicted a first time of a crime of violence, as defined in R.S. 14:2(B), who shall earn diminution of sentence at the rate of three days for every seventeen days in actual custody held on the imposed sentence, including, in either case, time spent in custody with good behavior prior to sentencing for the particular sentence imposed as authorized by Code of Criminal Procedure Article 880.

(2) The sheriff of the parish in which the conviction was had shall have the sole authority to determine when good time has been earned in accordance with the sheriff's regulations and the provisions of this Section.

(3) In the event that the prisoner is confined in a parish or multiparish correctional facility not operated by the sheriff, the superintendent of the correctional facility shall have the sole power to determine when good time has been earned or when diminution of sentence may be allowed in accordance with the provisions of this Section.

B.(1)(a) Unless otherwise prohibited, every offender in the custody of the department who has been convicted of a felony, except an offender convicted a second time of a crime of violence as defined by R.S. 14:2(B), and sentenced to imprisonment for a stated number of years or months, may earn, in lieu of incentive wages, a diminution of sentence by good behavior and performance of work or self-improvement activities, or both, to be known as "good time". Those offenders serving life sentences will be credited with good time earned which will be applied toward diminution of their sentences at such time as the life sentences might be commuted to a specific number of years. The secretary shall establish regulations for awarding and recording of good time and shall determine when good time has been earned toward diminution of sentence. The amount of diminution of sentence allowed under the provisions of this Section shall be at the rate of thirteen days for every seven days in actual custody served on the imposed sentence, including time spent in custody with good behavior prior to sentencing for the particular sentence imposed as authorized by the provisions of Code of Criminal Procedure Article 880.

(b) The provisions of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph shall be applicable to offenders convicted of offenses on or after January 1, 1992, and who are not serving a sentence for the following offenses:

(i) A sex offense as defined in R.S. 15:541.

(ii) A crime of violence as defined in R.S. 14:2(B).

(iii) Any offense which would constitute a crime of violence as defined in R.S. 14:2(B) or a sex offense as defined in R.S. 15:541, regardless of the date of conviction.

(2)(a) An offender convicted of a crime of violence as defined in R.S. 14:2(B), without a prior conviction of a crime of violence as defined in R.S. 14:2(B) or a sex offense as defined in R.S. 15:541, shall earn diminution of sentence at a rate of one day for every three days in actual custody held on the imposed sentence, including time spent in custody with good behavior prior to sentencing for the particular sentence imposed as authorized by Code of Criminal Procedure Article 880.

(b) The provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply to an offender if his instant conviction is for a crime that is listed both as a crime of violence pursuant to R.S. 14:2(B) and sex offense pursuant to R.S. 15:541.

(c) The provisions of this Paragraph shall apply only to offenders who commit an offense or whose probation or parole is revoked on or after November 1, 2017.

C. Diminution of sentence shall not be allowed an inmate in the custody of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections if any of the following apply:

(1) The inmate has been sentenced as an habitual offender under the Habitual Offender Law as set forth in R.S. 15:529.1.

(2) The trial court, in its discretion, prohibits the earning of such diminution of sentence for any person convicted of a violation of R.S. 14:40.2.

D.(1) Diminution of sentence shall not be allowed an offender in the custody of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections if the instant offense is a second offense crime of violence as defined by R.S. 14:2(B).

(2) Diminution of sentence shall not be allowed an offender in the custody of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections if the instant offense is a sex offense as defined by R.S. 15:541.

E. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any offender in the custody of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections who has been sentenced as an habitual offender pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 15:529.1 may earn additional good time for participation in certified treatment and rehabilitation programs as provided for in R.S. 15:828(B), unless the offender was convicted of a sex offense as defined by R.S. 15:541 or a crime of violence as defined by R.S. 14:2(B).

F. No later than August first of each year, the Department of Public Safety and Corrections shall submit an annual report to the legislature relative to offenders released from custody during the preceding fiscal year pursuant to the provisions of this Section. This report shall include the following information:

(1) The name and offender number of the released offender.

(2) The date on which the offender was released.

(3) The offense for which the offender was incarcerated at the time of his release, including whether the offense was a crime of violence as defined in R.S. 14:2(B) or a sex offense as defined in R.S. 15:541.

(4) A grid which shows the earliest release date that offenders would have been eligible for release notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3 of Act No. 280 of the 2017 Regular Session of the Legislature.

(5) Whether the offender obtained a GED certification or completed a literacy program, an adult basic education program, or a job skills training program before being released from custody.

(6) Any information relative to juvenile offenders that is exempt from release pursuant to a public records request or otherwise considered confidential by law shall be redacted from the report provided for by this Subsection.

Amended by Acts 1991, No. 138, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1992, No. 1011, §1; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 110, §1; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 149, §1; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 150, §1; Acts 1995, No. 946, §3; Acts 1995, No. 1099, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1997; Acts 1997, No. 832, §1; Acts 1999, No. 223, §1; Acts 1999, No. 963, §2; Acts 2001, No. 809, §1, eff. June 26, 2001; Acts 2003, No. 636, §1; Acts 2006, No. 174, §1; Acts 2006, No. 220, §1; Acts 2006, No. 572, §1; Acts 2008, No. 30, §1; Acts 2010, No. 649, §1, eff. Oct. 15, 2010; Acts 2011, No. 67, §3; Acts 2011, No. 186, §2; Acts 2012, No. 110, §1; Acts 2012, No. 181, §1; Acts 2014, No. 602, §§5, 7, eff. June 12, 2014; Acts 2014, No. 811, §7, eff. June 23, 2014; Acts 2015, No. 184, §2; Acts 2017, No. 280, §3, eff. Nov. 1, 2017; Acts 2018, No. 670, §1, eff. June 1, 2018.

NOTE: See Acts 2012, No. 110, §2, relative to applicability.