California good time and sentence credit rules
Since Prop 57, California awards Good Conduct Credit at rates set by workgroup. Most people in nonviolent cases earn 50% to 66.6%, and people in violent cases earn 33.3% to 50%. Program, education and heroism credits come on top.[1]
Sources last checked Oct 16, 2026, 8:21 AM MT. This explains current law. It does not calculate anyone's date.
Credit types and rates
- Good Conduct Credit (rates since Dec 28, 2021): workgroups A1, A2, B and D1 earn 50% (nonviolent) or 33.3% (violent). Workgroup M (minimum custody) earns 66.6% or 33.3%. Workgroup F (fire camp) earns 66.6% or 50%. Workgroups C and D2 (discipline) earn 0%.[1]
- Milestone Completion Credits: 1 to 12 weeks in a 12-month period for finishing rehabilitative or job-readiness programs.[1]
- Rehabilitative Achievement Credits: 10 days for each 52 hours of approved self-help or volunteer activity in a 12-month period.[1]
- Educational Merit Credits: 180 days for a high school diploma or equivalency, a college degree, or the Offender Mentor Certification Program.[1]
- Extraordinary Conduct Credits: up to 12 months for a heroic act or exceptional help keeping a prison safe.[1]
Exclusions and limits
- GCC can be forfeited through discipline.[1]
- Credit eligibility and rates depend on the case (violent vs nonviolent, determinate vs indeterminate, life terms). Penal Code §§2933 and 2933.1 and CCR Title 15 §3043 et seq. control. We could not load the official legislature site during this check, so those sections are not quoted here.
Parole eligibility vs. discharge
- Credits move up the release date on determinate sentences. Prop 57 also created parole consideration for eligible people with nonviolent convictions, after they serve the full term for their primary offense.[1] Indeterminate (life) sentences are decided by the Board of Parole Hearings.
What we could not verify
We verified the rates on CDCR's official credit-earning page. The statute and regulation text could not be loaded during this check.
How to find a release date
- Search the official CDCR Inmate Locator (CIRIS) by name or ID number.
- Look for the projected release, parole eligibility, or discharge date. The DOC record already includes credits it has awarded.
- For questions, contact the facility records office. Only DOC can correct a date.
New laws and bills
Not yet verified We have not yet verified whether sentence-credit legislation is active here. (tracker checked Oct 16, 2026)
FAQ
What is the good conduct credit rate in California?
For most people with nonviolent convictions in full-time or half-time assignments, it is 50%. Minimum custody and fire camp earn 66.6%. Violent cases mostly earn 33.3% (50% in fire camp). Source: CDCR.
What extra credits can you earn in California?
Milestone Completion Credits, Rehabilitative Achievement Credits (10 days per 52 hours), Educational Merit Credits (180 days for a diploma or degree), and up to 12 months of Extraordinary Conduct Credit.
What this site can't do
| Issue | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Discipline and lost credits | We cannot see write-ups, forfeitures or restored credits. Only the facility record shows them. |
| Detainers and holds | Warrants, immigration holds or other-state detainers can block release. They are not in public data. |
| Consecutive and concurrent sentences | How sentences stack changes every date. We do not recompute aggregated sentences. |
| Parole board discretion | Eligibility is not release. Boards decide, and can deny or defer. |
| Jail credit errors | Pretrial credit is set by the court. Errors must be fixed through the court or records office. |
| Recent law changes | New laws, court rulings and DOC policy changes can take weeks to reach records. |
| Individual legal advice | We explain public rules. A lawyer or the DOC records office can apply them to one case. |
Always confirm dates with the official DOC records office.
Sources
Official statute, regulation, or agency pages only. Last checked Oct 16, 2026, 8:21 AM MT. Spotted an error? Tell us.
All 50 states + DC · Federal (First Step Act) · Paroling to another state (Interstate Compact)
Sources: CDCR: In-Prison Credit-Earning Opportunities (Prop 57) · Last verified: · Corrections