Illinois good time and sentence credit rules
Most Illinois sentences earn day-for-day credit (50%). Truth-in-sentencing limits some offenses to 7.5 days a month (75%) or 4.5 days (85%). First-degree murder gets none (100%).[1]
Sources last checked Oct 16, 2026, 8:24 AM MT. This explains current law. It does not calculate anyone's date.
Credit types and rates
- Most offenses: day-for-day sentence credit.[1]
- Program and education credits can add more, up to 360 or 180 days depending on sentence length.[1]
- Education credits: 90 days for a high school equivalency, 120 days for an associate's degree, 180 days for a bachelor's, master's or professional degree (730 ILCS 5/3-6-3(a)(4.1)).[1]
- Pretrial jail credit is awarded by the court (730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-100).[1]
Exclusions and limits
- 100%: first-degree murder, terrorism, and natural life sentences.[1]
- 85% (4.5 days a month): attempted murder, criminal sexual assault, aggravated kidnapping, home invasion, armed robbery, aggravated vehicular hijacking, aggravated DUI and others in 3-6-3(a)(2).[1]
- 75% (7.5 days a month): listed drug trafficking, gunrunning, Class X delivery and related offenses.[1]
Parole eligibility vs. discharge
- Illinois abolished discretionary parole for most offenses. Sentence credit moves up the release date to mandatory supervised release.
What we could not verify
We verified this against the state Sentencing Policy Advisory Council's summary of 730 ILCS 5/3-6-3. The ILGA statute site was unreachable during this check.
How to find a release date
- Search the official IDOC Individual in Custody Search 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
Pending SB2256, HB3332, SB86 pending: sentence review after 10 years, under-21, and 55+. (tracker checked Oct 16, 2026)
FAQ
Is Illinois day-for-day?
For most offenses, yes (50%). Truth-in-sentencing offenses serve 75%, 85% or 100%.
Does first-degree murder get good time in Illinois?
No. It is 100% under 730 ILCS 5/3-6-3(a)(2)(i).
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, 8:24 AM MT. Spotted an error? Tell us.
All 50 states + DC · Federal (First Step Act) · Paroling to another state (Interstate Compact)
Sources: Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council: Sentence Credits 101 (citing 730 ILCS 5/3-6-3) · Last verified: · Corrections