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 or
subsequent time of a crime of violence as defined by R.S. 14:2(B) or as provided in
Subsection F of this Section, or an offender convicted a fourth or subsequent time of a
nonviolent felony offense, 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.
(3) An offender convicted of a fourth or subsequent nonviolent felony offense
shall earn a diminution of sentence at a rate of one day for every two 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. The provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply to any
person who has been convicted of a sex offense as defined in R.S. 15:541.
C. Diminution of sentence pursuant to this Section shall not be allowed to be
earned by an inmate in a parish prison or in the custody of the Department of Public
Safety and Corrections if any of the following apply:
(1) The inmate has been sentenced as a habitual offender under the Habitual
Offender Law as set forth in R.S. 15:529.1.
(2) The instant offense is a sex offense.
D. Repealed by Acts 2024, 2nd E.S., No. 7, §2, eff. April 29, 2024.
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. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a person convicted
in the death of a victim killed in the line of duty as a peace officer or first responder shall
earn diminution of sentence at a rate of one day for every thirty days in custody.
G.(1) 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:
(a) The name and offender number of the released offender.
(b) The date on which the offender was released.
(c) 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.
(d) 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.
(e) 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.
(2) 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.
H. No person who commits an offense on or after August 1, 2024, shall be eligible
to earn nor be entitled to any diminution of sentence or good time, except as provided in
R.S. 15:571.3.1.
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; 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, eff. August 15, 2008; Acts 2010,
No. 649, eff. Oct. 15, 2010; Acts 2011, No. 186, §2, eff. August 15, 2011; Acts 2012, No.
110, §1, eff. August 1, 2012; Acts 2012, No. 181, §1, eff. August 1, 2012; Acts 2014, No.
602, §5 and §7, eff. June 12, 2014; Acts 2014, No. 811, §7, eff. June 23, 2014; Acts 2015,
No. 184, §2, eff. August 1, 2015; Acts 2017, No. 280, §3, eff. November 1 2017; Acts
2018, No. 670, §1, eff. June 1, 2018; Acts 2023, No. 463, §1, eff. August 1, 2023; Acts
2024, 2nd E.S., No. 7, §§1 & 2, eff. April 29, 2024; Acts 2024, 2nd E.S., No. 21, §1, eff.
March 3, 2024; Acts 2025, No. 158, §1, eff. June 8, 2025.