Check the prison's math in Texas

1. Get the official document

Official name: unknown. We did not find the document's name in an official source. Ask the records office for "the official time computation" or "time sheet."

TDCJ's Classification and Records Department calculates inmate time. Texas law requires TDCJ to run a dispute resolution system for time-served credit errors, and in most cases an inmate must use it before raising the error in a habeas application (Gov't Code §501.0081). Public questions: Classification and Records, PO Box 99, Huntsville, TX 77342-0099, (936) 437-6231, classify@tdcj.texas.gov. [Tex. Gov't Code §501.0081] (opens in new tab) [TDCJ Classification and Records] (opens in new tab)

Official online lookup (some dates appear here): [TDCJ Inmate Search] (opens in new tab)

2. Which credits should appear

• Good conduct time depends on time-earning class: trusties earn 20 days per 30 days served (plus up to 10 extra days), Class I earns 20 days, and Class II earns 10 days. Class III earns none. [Tex. Gov't Code ch. 498 (good conduct time)] (opens in new tab)
• Up to 15 more days per 30 days served can be earned for diligent work, or for agricultural, educational or vocational programs. [Tex. Gov't Code ch. 498 (good conduct time)] (opens in new tab)
• Good conduct time is "a privilege and not a right." TDCJ can award it only if the person is actively working or in a program, unless they are not able to take part. [Tex. Gov't Code ch. 498 (good conduct time)] (opens in new tab)
• TDCJ can take away (forfeit) good conduct time for a new offense or a rule violation. Forfeited time cannot be restored. [Tex. Gov't Code ch. 498 (good conduct time)] (opens in new tab)

Full credit rules

3. Common-errors checklist

• Jail (pretrial) credit: days spent in county jail before sentencing are missing or miscounted. Compare with the jail booking record and the judgment.
• Sentence start date: the computation begins on the wrong day.
• Concurrent vs. consecutive: the judgment says one thing and the computation does the other.
• Multiple cases: credit applied to the wrong case, or a case missing. Rules on splitting credit between cases vary by state.
• Earned credits not posted: months of work, school or programs, or completed certificates, do not appear.
• Losses and restorations: credits taken without a finished disciplinary hearing, or restored credits never added back.
• Wrong law version: credit rules applied from a different date than the offense date.
• Revocation time: time on parole or supervision handled differently than the rules say.
• Detainers or holds: another case or agency may keep the person past the computed date (see detainers).
• Typos: sentence length, number of counts, or dates copied wrong from the judgment.

Have ready: the judgment, jail booking records, program certificates and disciplinary decisions.

4. If you find an error

• Write to the records office naming the exact error, with copies (never originals).
• If it is not fixed, use the agency's official grievance or dispute process.
• If the error is in the judgment itself (for example jail credit), the court may need to correct it. Talk to a lawyer or the public defender.

OutSooner explains the process; it does not prepare legal filings.

Getting lost good time restored · Make a release plan · Eligibility pre-check