Ohio good time and sentence credit rules
Ohio has no traditional good time. People can earn program credit of 1 or 5 days per month toward the stated prison term, capped at 15% of the term.[1]
Sources last checked Oct 16, 2026, 8:19 AM MT. This explains current law. It does not calculate anyone's date.
Credit types and rates
- From April 4, 2024, §2967.194 applies. Before that date, §2967.193 governed.[1][2]
- Productive participation in education, vocational training, prison industries, substance-abuse treatment or another approved program earns 1 day or 5 days of credit per completed month. Which rate applies depends on the category in §2967.194(D).[1]
- Up to 5 more days for successfully completing a second program or activity.[1]
- Total credit cannot exceed 15% of the days in the stated prison term.[1]
Exclusions and limits
- No credit for prison terms that §2929.13 or §2929.14 says cannot be reduced, or where §2967.13 or §2929.143(B) bars earned credit.[1]
- No credit for death sentences, or for prison or life terms for aggravated murder or murder (including attempt, conspiracy or complicity).[1]
- No credit for life without parole imposed under the listed statutes.[1]
- The 1-day rate (not 5) applies to terms that include certain sexually oriented offenses.[1]
Parole eligibility vs. discharge
- Earned credit counts toward satisfying the stated prison term, so it moves up release.[1] Indefinite (Reagan Tokes) sentences and parole-eligible life sentences follow other rules that we have not summarized here.
How to find a release date
- Search the official ODRC Offender 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
Not yet verified We have not yet verified whether sentence-credit legislation is active here. (tracker checked Oct 16, 2026)
FAQ
Does Ohio have good time?
Not traditional good time. Ohio uses earned credit for program participation (1 or 5 days a month), capped at 15% of the stated prison term.
Who cannot earn credit in Ohio?
People serving death or murder/aggravated murder terms, certain life-without-parole sentences, and terms the sentencing statutes say cannot be reduced.
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
- Ohio Rev. Code §2967.194 (earned credit, from April 4, 2024)
- Ohio Rev. Code §2967.193 (earned credit before April 4, 2024)
Official statute, regulation, or agency pages only. Last checked Oct 16, 2026, 8:19 AM MT. Spotted an error? Tell us.
All 50 states + DC · Federal (First Step Act) · Paroling to another state (Interstate Compact)