TITLE 11

Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Criminal Procedure Generally

CHAPTER 43. Sentencing, Probation, Parole and Pardons

Subchapter VIII. Diminution of Confinement

§ 4381. Earned good time.

(a) Subject to the limitations set forth in subsection (b) of this section, all sentences, other than a life sentence, imposed for any offense pursuant to any provision of this title, Title 16 and/or Title 21 may be reduced by good time credit under the provisions of this subchapter and rules and regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Corrections. This provision will apply regardless of any previously imposed statutory limitations set forth in this title, Title 16 or Title 21.

(b) The awarding of good time credit set forth in subsection (a) of this section above will not apply to sentences imposed pursuant to § 4214 or § 4204(k) of this title or sentences imposed prior to the enactment of this statute.

(c) “Good time” may be earned for good behavior while in the custody of the Department of Correction when the person has not been guilty of any violation of discipline, rules of the Department or any criminal activity and has labored with diligence toward rehabilitation according to the following conditions:

(1) During the first year of any sentence, good time may be awarded at the rate of 2 days per month beginning on the first day of confinement.

(2) After completing 365 days of any sentence, good time may be awarded at the rate of 3 days per month.

(3) No person shall be awarded more than 36 days of good time under this subsection for good behavior in any 1 year consisting of 365 calendar days actually served.

(d) “Good time” may be earned by participation in education, rehabilitation, work, or other programs as designated by the Commissioner. Good time may be awarded for satisfactory participation in approved programs at a rate of up to 10 days per calendar month. For offenders sentenced on or after August 8, 2012, up to 60 days of additional good time may be awarded for successful completion of an approved program designed to reduce recidivism.

(e) No more than a total of 180 days of “good time” may be earned in any 1 year consisting of 365 days actually served. Good time credits shall be applied such that the resulting release date is not prior to the effective completion date of the offender’s approved program. For offenders serving multiple sentences, good time shall be credited to the consolidated time being served, rather than individually to each sentence.

(f) Each person serving a sentence in the custody of the Department shall be provided a copy of all rules, policies, and procedures relating to the accrual and forfeiture of good time, notwithstanding § 4322 of this title, at the person’s initial classification and upon transfer to a different facility. The rules, policies, and procedures shall also be made available upon request of a person in custody.

(g) The Department shall provide each person in its custody with a quarterly accounting of that inmate’s good time, including the good time accrued each month, total good time accrued, and any good time forfeited, together with the reason therefor. If the inmate believes the accounting is incorrect, the Department shall provide the inmate with an in-person meeting with a correctional counselor or designee to discuss and resolve any alleged discrepancy.

67 Del. Laws, c. 130, §  574 Del. Laws, c. 346, §  276 Del. Laws, c. 351, §§  1-377 Del. Laws, c. 406, §  178 Del. Laws, c. 392, §§  9, 1079 Del. Laws, c. 187, §  183 Del. Laws, c. 82, § 283 Del. Laws, c. 467, § 1

§ 4382. Forfeiture of good time.

(a) Any person subject to the custody of the Department at Level IV or V shall, upon the conviction of any felony during the term of the sentence, forfeit all good time accumulated to the date of the criminal act; this forfeiture is not subject to suspension.

(b) Any person subject to the custody of the Department of Correction at Level IV or V who has been found guilty of a Class-I disciplinary violation may, under the rules and procedures of the Department, forfeit all or part of that person’s accrued good time. Forfeiture under this subsection may be suspended by the Department for the purposes of encouraging rehabilitation or compliance with discipline.

(c) Any person subject to the custody of the Department who is determined to have physically assaulted any correctional officer or employee of the Department shall, in addition to any criminal or civil penalties which may be imposed, forfeit all good time accumulated to date of the assault; this forfeiture is not subject to suspension.

(d) When good time is actually ordered forfeit, it may not be recovered by the incarcerated person.

(e) Any person subject to the custody of the Department at Level IV or Level V, who is found by a court or a federal court to have filed a factually frivolous claim, malicious claim or legally frivolous claim and sanctioned by the court or federal court pursuant to § 8805(a) or (b) of Title 10, shall be deemed to have failed to earn behavior good time credits within the meaning of § 4381(c) of this title and shall have a portion of that person’s good time credits accumulated pursuant to § 4381(c) of this title forfeited to the extent and in accordance with the order issued pursuant to § 8805 of Title 10.

67 Del. Laws, c. 130, §  570 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  170 Del. Laws, c. 411, §  370 Del. Laws, c. 581, §  177 Del. Laws, c. 406, §  183 Del. Laws, c. 467, § 1

§ 4383. Earned compliance credit for probation.

(a) Any periods of probation sentenced to or released to probation on or after August 8, 2012, may be reduced by earned compliance credit under the provisions of this chapter and rules and regulations adopted by the Department of Correction.

(b) Persons under supervision may earn up to 30 days of credit for 30 days of compliance with conditions of supervision, not to exceed 1/2 of their probationary period.

Earned compliance credit will be forfeited upon conviction of a new crime and may be forfeited upon revocation of probation.

(c) For any offender released on or after August 8, 2012, a period of conditional release shall be served concurrently with the probationary period.

(d) Earned compliance credit shall not be available to reduce any period of probation:

(1) Imposed for any sexual offense as defined in § 761 of this title; or

(2) Imposed for any violent felony in this title as designated by § 4201(c) of this title; or

(3) Imposed for any offense set forth in the Delaware Code if the period of probation is imposed to ensure the collection of any restitution ordered and the individual is sentenced to Accountability Level I—Restitution Only; or

(4) Imposed for such other categories of offenses as set forth in the rules and regulations adopted by the Department of Correction.

78 Del. Laws, c. 392, §  1179 Del. Laws, c. 187, §  2

§ 4384. [Reserved.]