Georgia good time and sentence credit rules
Georgia has no automatic good time that shortens sentences. The Parole Board decides release for parole-eligible people and may set a Tentative Parole Month (TPM). People serving term sentences for "serious violent felonies" committed since 1995 serve 100%.[1]
Sources last checked Oct 16, 2026, 8:23 AM MT. This explains current law. It does not calculate anyone's date.
Credit types and rates
- Eligible people are considered for parole automatically. The Board may set a Tentative Parole Month or deny parole.[1]
- A TPM is not a final grant. The Board can change it at any time before release.[1]
- The Board uses Parole Decision Guidelines (crime severity and risk score) but can depart from them.[2]
- Rehabilitative efforts can move a TPM up a few months under the Performance Incentive Credit Program.[2]
Exclusions and limits
- Serious violent felonies (murder, rape, aggravated child molestation, aggravated sodomy, aggravated sexual battery, armed robbery, kidnapping) committed on or after Jan 1, 1995, with a non-life sentence: no parole, 100% of the term.[1]
- Also not eligible: recidivists sentenced after a fourth felony, life without parole, and death sentences.[1]
Parole eligibility vs. discharge
- Parole eligibility and TPMs come from the Board. Without parole, people serve to the sentence's end. You can look up a TPM on the Board's website.[1]
How to find a release date
- Search the official GDC Offender Query 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
Does Georgia have good time?
Not in the sense of automatic sentence reduction. Release depends on the Parole Board, which may set a Tentative Parole Month.
What is a TPM in Georgia?
A Tentative Parole Month: a future month when the Board will do a final review. It is not guaranteed and can be changed before release.
Who must serve 100% in Georgia?
People serving term sentences for serious violent felonies committed on or after Jan 1, 1995.
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
- Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles: FAQ
- Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles: Parole consideration and guidelines
Official statute, regulation, or agency pages only. Last checked Oct 16, 2026, 8:23 AM MT. Spotted an error? Tell us.
All 50 states + DC · Federal (First Step Act) · Paroling to another state (Interstate Compact)
Sources: Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles: FAQ · Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles: Parole consideration and guidelines · Last verified: · Corrections