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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT: Nicole
Reigelman |
State Rep. Harold James
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James introduces bill to establish ‘earned time’ system
HARRISBURG, March 8 – State Rep. Harold James, D-Phila., has introduced a bill to create a system to encourage good behavior by incarcerated people.
James' bill (H.B. 678) would establish a mechanism to reward good behavior and discourage poor behavior by the prison population. James’ plan would implement a system of “earned time” for prisoners who have no infractions of guidelines or regulations while serving their sentence.
Specifically, any person serving a maximum term of two or more years would be eligible for two months of earned time for their first year in the institution. The time would be awarded on a pro-rated basis for every month in which there are no infractions. Each year of the sentence the potential earned time would increase: three months for the second year; four months for the third and fourth years; and five months for each subsequent year.
The earned time would be deducted from the minimum sentence, which would therefore allow the Board of Parole to release a person early at the board’s discretion.
There also would be the threat of revoking earned time if there is an infraction, which would serve as a firm deterrent against bad behavior, James said.
“Some people adjust their undesirable behavior almost immediately after being imprisoned,” James said. “People who learn their lesson promptly and change their behavior in a positive way should be able to earn an earlier release date, while still serving adequate time to repay their debt to society.”
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