It depends on where they are doing time, what their charges and criminal history are. The federal system has a program called RDAP that can reduce a sentence by twelve months. Some state systems have reductions for work credits. All places have good time credits for inmates that have no incident reports.

The new law is for federal inmates only.  It pertains to the mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines that have been changed retroactively by the US Sentencing Commission. There may be some trickle-down effect to the state level as each is looking at own mandatory minimums and the money it would save lightening the prison population. If anything does happen, it will happen first for the non-violent offenders. Recalculation is rarely if ever done.

InmateAid is plugged into the latest news regarding changing laws, especially for sentencing issues. Eric Holder, the Attorney General of the United States made a speech last week that might affect the mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines for non-violent first-time drug offenders. It does not appear to be specific for any jurisdiction except for "federal cases".

We are not lawyers but this does not appear to be a case where he could see a reduction except for good time credits for not getting into any more trouble while doing the six months. Keep in contact with him and keep him occupied with things to read like letters from you, books, magazines and newspapers.

Sentence reduction comes from good behavior time credit, residential drug program (federal) or cooperation with the government. If you are cooperating you can get the credit before or during your sentence - there is no prerequisite of time served.

Inmates are nosy and will try to find out anything they can to exploit other inmates. Predatory inmates look for weaknesses in other inmates, especially new ones. DO NOT offer any information about your case and NEVER let another inmate know you co-operated, being called a snitch is the worst thing an inmate can be labeled; and yes it is dangerous to do so.

Good time is normally calculated into the release date. An inmate can only have good time taken away and therefore add time to the release date. In state prison, there are some programs where working harder labor, like long kitchen detail hours give more good time. Have your inmate ask his counselor or unit manager about programs that exist which might carve off some more time.

The state systems vary by each state, most states offer a program for "good time" reduction for good behavior and for taking approved courses. Some state prisons even have a special matching of good time credits for number of days an inmate works in the kitchen. The federal good time is about 15% of sentence. States range good time credit from as much as 67% (do only a 1/3 of your sentence) to the same 15% that they have at

The Second Chance Act was passed by Congress in 2010 but the Bureau of Prisons has been slow to implement the law. The caveat in the law allows the BOP to use the statute "to their best discretion." Typically that means less being done than more. We have the actual statute on the site. CLICK HERE to download the 2nd Chance Act PDF