With the new law, the Department of Corrections' responsibility changed and dramatically increased. Release dates, for crimes committed since 1989, are determined by a complex, mathematical process. Inmates held too long can file a claim for damages. If an inmate is released too soon, the department has failed to fulfill its statutory obligations. Sentence orders specify the number of months for each crime.
Inmates usually have several different crimes.
Under certain circumstances, time spent in the county jail may count on the sentence. In most circumstances, an inmate's prison term may be reduced for good behavior and participating in work or programs. Records staff calculate the prison term by combining the individual sentences and subtracting credited jail time and time earned for good behavior. When an inmate is delivered, county deputies present transport orders, temporary sentencing orders, or final typed sentencing orders providing basic information. These orders differ by county and by agency.