Case Name: James A. DODSON, Appellant v. Tracy W. JOHNS
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2005-10-24
Citations: 147 F. App'x 316
Docket Number: No. 05-1419
Parties: James A. DODSON, Appellant v. Tracy W. JOHNS.
Judges: Before RENDELL, AMBRO and BECKER, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 147
Pages: 316–317

Head Matter:
James A. DODSON, Appellant v. Tracy W. JOHNS.
No. 05-1419.
United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
Submitted For Possible Dismissal Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) or Summary Action Under Third Circuit LAR 27.4 and I.O.P. 10.6 Oct. 6, 2005.
Decided Oct. 24, 2005.
James A. Dodson, Loretto, PA, pro se.
Kelly R. Labby, Office of United States Attorney, Pittsburgh, PA, for Tracy W. Johns.
Before RENDELL, AMBRO and BECKER, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
OPINION OF THE COURT
PER CURIAM
James Dodson, a prisoner currently incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution in Lorretto, Pennsylvania, appeals pro se the order of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania denying his habeas petition filed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. For the reasons that follow, we will summarily affirm.
Dodson was convicted of drug-related charges in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. In November 2000, he was sentenced to 70 months of imprisonment. The Bureau of Prisons ("BOP") calculated that Dodson is eligible to earn up to 274 days of good conduct time under 18 U.S.C. § 3624(b). That section provides, in relevant part:
[A] prisoner who is serving a term of imprisonment of more than 1 year other than a term of imprisonment for the duration of the prisoner's life, may receive credit toward the service of the prisoner's sentence, beyond the time served, of up to 54 days at the end of each year of the prisoner's term of imprisonment, beginning at the end of the first year of the term, subject to determination by the Bureau of Prisons that, during that year, the prisoner has displayed exemplary compliance with institutional disciplinary regulations.
18 U.S.C. § 3624(b)(1).
The BOP's interpretation of this statute, and its calculation of Dodson's good conduct time, is based on the time actually served in prison. This calculation accounts for the fact that the prisoner's sentence is incrementally shortened as good time credit is awarded each year. Dodson argues, however, he is entitled to earn up to 54 days per year based on the sentence imposed, not based on time actually served. See Memorandum in Support of § 2241 Petition, 3-10.
Dodson's claim is identical to that raised and rejected in O'Donald v. Johns, 402 F.3d 172 (3d Cir.2005), rehearing en banc denied (order entered October 4, 2005). In O'Donald, 402 F.3d at 174, we held that the meaning of § 3624(b) is ambiguous and therefore deferred to the BOP's interpretation of the statute. Accordingly, for the reasons described in O'Donald, we conclude that the District Court properly rejected Dodson's challenge to the BOP's calculation of his good conduct time.
Because this appeal presents "no substantial question," 3d Cir. LAR 27.4 and I.O.P. 10.6, we will summarily affirm the District Court's January 1, 2005, order.
. The Appellee's motion to stay the briefing schedule is denied as moot.