NEW ENGLAND STATES GOOD TIME GUIDELINES 3/19/09 

A survey was conducted regarding the application of good time and/or earned creditsin the New England states’ correctional systems. 

Each surveyed state’s correctional agency responded as follows: 

1. 
Maine Department of Correction. An inmate may earn up to 3 days per month ifparticipating in work, educational or rehabilitative programming and up to 4days per month for good behavior. An inmate may earn an additional 2 days ontop of that if assigned to a community work, educational or rehabilitativeprogram. Total of 9 days per month possible. 
Reference: 
Policy 11.5, Prisoner Records 

2. 
Massachusetts Department of Correction. An inmate may earn good time forsatisfactory performance related to a work assignment, educational orvocational program, or other program or activity as approved by theAssociate Commissioner of Re-entry and Reintegration. 
A. 
Work Assignments. Deductions totaling not more than 2.5 days per monthmay be granted to an inmate who is involved in one or more approvedwork assignment(s). 
B. 
Educational or Vocational Programs. Deductions totaling not more than
2.5 days per month may be granted to an inmate who is involved in oneor more approved educational or vocational program(s). 
C. 
Activities. Deductions totaling not more than 2.5 days per month maybe granted to an inmate who is involved in one or more approvedactivities as approved by the Associate Commissioner of Re-entry andReintegration. 
Reference: 
103 CMR 411.00, Deduction from Sentence 

3. 
New Hampshire Department of Corrections. An inmate may petition the courtfor a sentence modification or suspension. New Hampshire does not award GoodTime to inmates. 
Reference: 
Directive 1.48, Petition for a Recommendation to Modify orSuspend Sentence 

4. 
Rhode Island Department of Corrections. An inmate may accumulate earned time 
for: 
A. 
Good Behavior. Non-sex offenders sentenced to serve more than 30 dayscan earn 10 days per month. Sex offenders serving more than six monthscan earn the number of days per month as there are years in theirsentence up to a maximum of 10 days per month (i.e., sex offenderserving 5 years can earn 5 days per month. Sex offender serving 7years can earn 7 days per month. Sex offender serving 15 years earnsthe maximum - 10 days per month.) Anyone serving life or life withoutparole for any offense is not eligible to earn good behavior credits. 
B. 
Program Participation. Non-sex offenders can earn up to 5 days permonth for participation in rehabilitative programs. They can earn upto 30 days credit for completion of a program. Sex offenders can earnup to 3 days per month for participation in rehabilitative programs upto a maximum of 36 days per year. They are not eligible to earncredits for completion of a program. Those persons serving life or 

life without parole are not eligible to earn any program participationand completion credits. 

C. 
Meritorious Service. Any offender sentenced to imprisonment for oneyear or more in the adult correctional institutions, shall be eligibleto have deducted from his or her sentence up to three (3) days permonth up to a maximum of thirty-six (36) days per year, when in thedetermination of the director or designee, an offender has performedheroic acts affecting the lives and welfare of the institutionalpersonnel, inmates, or the general public, or when an inmate hassubmitted extraordinary and useful ideas and plans which have beenimplemented for the benefit of the state resulting in substantialsavings and/or a higher degree of efficiency or performance whileparticipating in and completing academic or vocational programs whichhave been implemented at the adult correctional institutions. 
Reference: 
General Law 1956, Section 42-56-24, Earned Time for GoodBehavior or Program Participation or Completion; and,
General Law 1956, Section 42-56-26, Additional Time Allowed forMeritorious Service 

5. 
Vermont Department of Corrections. An offender may be awarded a reduction of 
incarceration for: 
A. 
Faithful observation of all the rules and regulations of theinstitution to which the offender is committed; 
B. 
Participation in treatment, educational or vocational training,
programs, or work identified by the department; or’ 
C. 
Participation in a work camp program. 
There is an “Automatic Reduction of Term” of 5 days per month. The AutomaticReduction of Term is deducted off the maximum release date. There is also an 
“Earned Reduction of Term” in which an offender may earn up to 10 days ofEarned Reduction of Term per month off of their maximum release dates forthe following: 

1. 
Up to 5 of the 10 days per month may be earned by satisfactory andconsistent program performance as required by the offender’s caseplan; and, 
2. 
Up to 5 of the 10 days per month may be earned by satisfactory andconsistent work performance. 
Reference: 
Directive 371.19, Reduction of Term for Good Behavior