Opinion ID: 2355052
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Good-Time Credit in Washington

Text: ¶ 12 Before addressing the issues presented in this case it is instructive to consider the nature of good-time credit. Our prior case law distinguishes between straight-time and good-time credit. Straight-time credit refers to credit a prisoner receives for time actually served before receiving his sentence. See State v. Phelan, 100 Wash.2d 508, 510, 671 P.2d 1212 (1983). Good-time credit refers to credit a prisoner receives for good behavior or good performance while incarcerated. See id. Good-time credit is the familiar name for what the legislature refers to as `earned early release time.' In re Pers. Restraint of Williams, 121 Wash.2d 655, 658, 853 P.2d 444 (1993). ¶ 13 Washington's current statutory scheme allows both county jails and the Department to award good-time credit. A county jail may award good-time credit for good behavior and good performance as determined by the county authorities. RCW 9.92.151(1). For inmates convicted of a serious violent offense or a sex offense that is a class A felony, good-time credit cannot exceed 15 percent of the sentence imposed. Id. No inmate can receive good-time credit that exceeds one-third of the imposed sentence. Id. Offenders confined for violations of RCW 9.94A.670(5)(a) are not eligible for good-time credit. RCW 9.92.151(2). The legislature placed similar, though not identical, guidelines for earning good-time credit in the Department's facilities. See RCW 9.94A.728.729. ¶ 14 There are two types of good-time credit available in the Department's system: good-conduct time and earned time. See Dep't of Corrections Policy Directive 350.100 (Apr. 29, 2011) (DOC Directive). A prisoner convicted of a serious violent offense on or after July 1, 2003 may earn good-time credit up to 10 percent of his or her sentence. DOC Directive 350.100(I)(B). The Skamania County Superior Court convicted Talley of murder in the second degree, which is a serious violent offense. RCW 9.94A.030(44)(a)(iii). ¶ 15 A prisoner held by the Department earns good conduct time for good behavior on a pro rata basis for every 30 days served, as allowed by crime category. DOC Directive 350.100(II)(C). Thus, a prisoner subject to the 10-percent rule may earn good conduct time for good behavior at a rate of 3 days per 30 days served. A prisoner held by the Department may also accrue earned time for participation in approved programs. DOC Directive 350.100(III)(A). A program participant subject to the 10-percent rule earns credit at a rate of 1.11 days per calendar month. DOC Directive 350.100(III)(A)(1). ¶ 16 A prisoner denied or unable to pay bail will spend presentence detention in a county jail and then transfer to a [Department] facility upon sentencing. In re Pers. Restraint of Fogle, 128 Wash.2d 56, 60, 904 P.2d 722 (1995). Upon transfer, the Department reduces the prisoner's sentence for both day-for-day (straight-time) credit and good-time credit earned at the county jail before sentencing. Id. ¶ 17 The Skamania County Jail policy contrasts with the Department's system. An inmate at the Skamania County Jail can receive good-time credit only if he participates in a specified work program. To use the nomenclature of the Department, the Skamania County Jail policy only offers earned time and not good conduct time. ¶ 18 Presentence inmates cannot participate in the county's work programs nor can inmates who are not classified as medium or low risk detainees. Skamania County awards a program participant serving a sentence of 30 days or less 1 day of good-time credit per 7 days served. A program participant serving a sentence of more than 30 days receives 5 days of good-time credit per 30 days served.