(a)

(1) The sheriff of any county having a consolidated or metropolitan form of government and all counties of the state having a population of six hundred thousand (600,000) or more, according to the 1970 federal census or any subsequent federal census, shall develop an inmate incentive program for workhouse prisoners, whereby credit may be given toward the reduction of time that an inmate is required to serve for the inmate's participation in academic or vocational education classes sponsored by the consolidated or metropolitan government and all counties of the state having a population of six hundred thousand (600,000) or more, according to the 1970 federal census or any subsequent federal census, and for above average performance in the inmate's job placement, on the basis of a rating system devised by the sheriff.

(2) In all other counties, the sheriff or superintendent may develop an inmate incentive program for workhouse prisoners whereby credit may be given toward the reduction of time that an inmate is required to serve for the inmate's participation in academic or vocational education classes on the basis of a rating system.

(b) The program and rating system shall be approved by a three-member commission established pursuant to § 41-2-134. The commission shall be the same commission as set up to oversee the work release program.

(c) All reductions in time to be served by the prisoners shall be approved by the commission. Those credits of time shall be in addition to any other credits toward sentence reduction to which workhouse inmates are entitled by provisions of any other law.

(d) The sheriff is authorized to develop a schedule whereby an inmate is credited with a certain amount of time for active participation in an academic or vocational training program for a certain number of days and with a certain amount of time for maintaining a rating of above average job performance for a certain number of days.

(e) Those credits on time shall be in addition to any other credits toward sentence reduction to which workhouse inmates are entitled by any other law.

(f) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a county sheriff may create an inmate reentry education program. The successful completion of a reentry education program may allow an inmate to qualify for an educational sentence reduction credit of sixty (60) days if the inmate successfully receives a high school equivalency credential, high school diploma, vocational education diploma, or other postsecondary or industry-recognized certification. No credit will be given for any credential, diploma, degree, or certification unless the course of study, including the institution or entity through which the credential, diploma, degree, or certification is offered, has received the prior approval of the department of correction.