I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1475 
To amend title 18, United States Code, to restore the former system of 
good time allowances toward service of Federal prison terms, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 12, 2009 
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois (for himself, Mr. AL GREEN of Texas, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. 
RUSH, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Ms. WATERS, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHN-
SON of Texas, Mr. FATTAH, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Ms. CORRINE BROWN 
of Florida, Mr. CUMMINGS, and Mr. CLAY) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To amend title 18, United States Code, to restore the former 
system of good time allowances toward service of Federal 
prison terms, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Federal Prison Work 
Incentive Act of 2009’’. 
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SEC. 2. RESTORATION OF FORMER GOOD TIME SYSTEM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Part III of title 18, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting after chapter 307 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘CHAPTER 309—GOOD TIME ALLOWANCES 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘4161. Computation generally. 
‘‘4162. Industrial good time. 
‘‘4163. Discharge. 
‘‘4164. Forfeiture for offense. 
‘‘4165. Restoration of forfeited commutation. 
‘‘§ 4161. Computation generally 
‘‘(a) Each prisoner convicted of an offense against 
the United States and confined in a penal or correctional 
institution for a definite term other than for life, whose 
record of conduct shows that the prisoner has substan-
tially observed all regulations promulgated by the Director 
of the Bureau of Prisons and has not been subjected to 
punishment, shall be entitled to a deduction from the term 
of his sentence imposed beginning with the day on which 
the sentence commences to run, and including time served 
in pretrial confinement, as follows: 
‘‘(1) 5 days for each month of the sentence, if 
the sentence is not less than 6 months and not more 
than 1 year. 
‘‘(2) 6 days for each month of the sentence, if 
the sentence is more than 1 year and less than 3 
years. 
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‘‘(3) 7 days for each month of the sentence, if 
the sentence is not less than 3 years and less than 
5 years. 
‘‘(4) 8 days for each month of the sentence, if 
the sentence is not less than 5 years and less than 
10 years. 
‘‘(5) 10 days for each month of the sentence, if 
the sentence is 10 years of more. 
‘‘(b) When 2 or more consecutive sentences are to be 
served, the aggregate of the several sentences shall be the 
basis upon which the deduction shall be computed. 
‘‘§ 4162. Industrial good time 
‘‘(a) A prisoner may, in the discretion of the Director 
of the Bureau of Prisons, be allowed a deduction from that 
prisoner’s sentence of not to exceed 3 days for each month 
of actual employment in an industry or camp for the first 
year or any part thereof, and not to exceed 5 days for 
each month of any succeeding year or part thereof. 
‘‘(b) In the discretion of the Director of the Bureau 
of Prisons such allowance may also be made to a prisoner 
performing exceptionally meritorious service or performing 
duties of outstanding importance in connection with insti-
tutional operations. 
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‘‘(c) Such allowance shall be in addition to commuta-
tion of time for good conduct, and under the same terms 
and conditions and without regard to length of sentence. 
‘‘§ 4163. Discharge 
‘‘Except as otherwise provided by law a prisoner shall 
be released at the expiration of the term of sentence less 
the time deducted for good conduct. A certificate of such 
deduction shall be entered on the commitment by the War-
den or keeper. If such release date falls upon a Saturday, 
a Sunday, or on a Monday which is a legal holiday at the 
place of confinement, the prisoner may be released at the 
discretion of the warden or keeper on the preceding Fri-
day. If such release date falls on a holiday which falls 
other than on a Saturday, Sunday, or Monday, the pris-
oner may be released at the discretion of the warden or 
keeper on the day preceding the holiday. 
‘‘§ 4164. Forfeiture for offense 
‘‘If during the term of imprisonment a prisoner com-
mits any offense or violates the regulations promulgated 
by the Director of the Bureau of Prisons, all or any part 
of his earned good time may be forfeited. 
‘‘§ 4165. Restoration of forfeited commutation 
‘‘The Director of the Bureau of Prisons shall by regu-
lation provide for the criteria for and means of restoration 
of any forfeited or lost good time or portion.’’. 
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(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of chapters 
for part III of title 18, United States Code, is amended 
by striking the item relating to chapter 309 and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘309. Good time allowances ........................................................... 4161’’. 
(c) CONFORMING REPEAL AND CROSS REFERENCE 
CHANGE.—Section 3624 of title 18, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (b); and 
(2) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘subsection 
(b)’’ and inserting ‘‘chapter 309’’. 
(d) APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS.—This Act and 
the amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect 
to— 
(1) all prisoners, other than those to whom the 
former system of the former chapter 309 of title 18 
applies, as of the date of the enactment of this Act; 
and 
(2) all periods of imprisonment of the prisoners 
to whom it applies that occur after the date of that 
enactment. 
Æ 
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