The time a convict actually spends locked up is another. Prison and jail overcrowding has become a passionate issue in recent years. Local and state governments have simply proved unable to build enough facilities to accommodate everyone sentenced to incarceration. Chances are, a convict will serve less time than originally mandated. How long a prison stay is reduced depends on the jurisdiction.
Corrections officers have great flexibility in awarding early release.
Behave well while incarcerated, and you may be released early. Parole Parole is another form of early release. Similar to probation, parole allows you to live relatively freely in society, but the state puts demands on, and monitors, your behavior. If you violate the conditions of parole, a judge may send you back to jail. Whether you should be released on parole is decided by a parole board, an administrative entity that operates in jails and prisons.