Colorado good time and sentence credit rules
Colorado earned time under C.R.S. §17-22.5-405 is now up to 14 days a month (up from 12) for many people serving class 4-6 felonies or level 3-4 drug felonies. People with certain listed convictions have a lower monthly cap.[1]
Sources last checked Oct 16, 2026, 8:26 AM MT. This explains current law. It does not calculate anyone's date.
Credit types and rates
- Up to 14 days per month of incarceration or parole (up from 12) for people serving a class 4, 5 or 6 felony or a level 3 or 4 drug felony who are program-compliant and have no recent serious discipline.[1]
- People convicted now or before of certain listed crimes (such as §§18-3-303, 18-3-305, 18-3-306, 18-6-701, or crimes listed in §24-4.1-302(1)) fall under a separate, lower cap in subsection (1.5)(a.5).[1]
- SB26-159 also adds credit for behavioral-health program milestones. See our Colorado page.[1]
Exclusions and limits
- Requires no class I discipline violation in the past 24 months and no class II violation in the past 12 months (or the whole term, if shorter).[1]
Parole eligibility vs. discharge
- Earned time is deducted from the sentence, which moves up parole eligibility and mandatory release. The Parole Board decides discretionary parole.
How to find a release date
- Search the official CDOC Inmate Locator 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
Enacted SB26-159 adds 2 days/month earned time and up to 150 days behavioral-health credit (signed May 2026). (tracker checked Oct 16, 2026)
50-state tracker · Colorado action kit · Our Colorado law guide
FAQ
How much earned time do you get in Colorado?
Up to 14 days a month for eligible class 4-6 and level 3-4 drug felonies after SB26-159 (12 before). Some listed convictions have a lower cap.
What disqualifies earned time in Colorado?
Recent class I or II penal-code violations, or not being program-compliant.
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, 8:26 AM MT. Spotted an error? Tell us.
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Sources: Colorado SB26-159 session law (amending C.R.S. §17-22.5-405) · Last verified: · Corrections