Getting arrested and sentenced to prison can have devastating impacts. Typically, an individual’s family loses a breadwinner and must struggle to survive without income from a source outside the home. Proponents of tough sanctions often conflate punishment with accountability, but long prison terms fail to hold people accountable or motivate them to make positive changes. Policymakers can address these failures by improving programming opportunities and expanding options for early release.

Get Time Off for Good Behavior

If you behave well in prison, the courts might reduce your sentence. Most inmates who work towards rehabilitation and comply with prison disciplinary rules may earn good time credits that will reduce the length of their sentences. To ensure that prison administrators give you the maximum time credit, you can collaborate with an experienced criminal defense attorney from Berry Law Firm. It is done by submitting progress reports and documenting positive things like program participation, cell cleanliness, and avoiding severe disciplinary infractions.

A defendant who maintains exemplary compliance with prison rules and avoids disciplinary issues can earn up to 1/3 of their sentence for good behavior. The good behavior must be accompanied by evidence of remorse and a commitment to rehabilitation. The excellent time credit can be applied to a sentence’s served and suspended portions.

Get a Plea Deal

Depending on the circumstances of a case, it may make sense for you and your attorney to negotiate a plea deal with prosecutors. Plea bargaining can occur before a jury delivers a verdict in court. A defendant may accept a plea deal to avoid the risk of conviction and the possibility of jail time. Plea deals can also reduce a trial’s stress and cost by speeding up a case’s resolution. However, you should carefully weigh the long-term consequences of a guilty plea. You can balance these issues with the assistance of a trustworthy criminal defense attorney. Your lawyer can analyze the evidence, assess your strengths and weaknesses, and review the potential penalties to ensure you get a fair deal.

File for a Sentencing Reduction

A sentence in jail or prison can take years away from your family and career. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce your criminal penalties before and after your sentence is imposed. Your attorney can file a motion asking for a reduced sentence based on mitigating factors, such as your criminal history and good behavior in prison. Your lawyer can also help you get a reduction by finding mistakes in the court’s original sentencing order and pointing them out.

Under federal Rule 35 and corresponding state law, the government can reduce your sentence if you provide substantial assistance with their investigation or prosecution of another person. This reduction is known as an “acceptance of responsibility” reduction. It can also lead to a downward departure from the federal sentencing guidelines.

Petition for a Commutation

The Governor can commute a conviction and sentence if the prisoner meets specific criteria. Commutation is not meant to be a judgment of guilt or innocence, nor is it meant to be a means of reexamining the actions taken in trial and appellate courts, according to the Governor’s Clemency Guidelines. In general, a clemency petition will include information about your family life, work history, military service, the crime for which you serve, and your rehabilitative efforts during your incarceration. You will also need to submit a letter explaining why you deserve compassion. The Board of Parole Hearings will review your commutation application and prepare a recommendation for the Governor. This recommendation will be sent to the Governor, and they will have 30 days to decide.