TN · Sentence credit rules

Tennessee good time and sentence credit rules

Tennessee sentence credits are capped at 6 or 8 days a month for behavior and 6 or 8 days a month for programs, depending on security status.^[1]

Sources last checked Oct 16, 2026, 8:25 AM MT. This explains current law. It does not calculate anyone's date.

Credit types and rates

Credits reward good institutional behavior and successful program participation. They reduce the days a person must stay in prison.^[1]
In TDOC prisons, credits are limited to 6 or 8 days a month for behavior, plus 6 or 8 days a month for programs, depending on security status.^[1]

The Inmate Disciplinary Oversight Board reviews awarded credits to check that the person's conduct justifies them.^[1]
Release eligibility percentages and exclusions are in T.C.A. §40-35-501 and §41-21-236. We could not load official text of those sections during this check.

Credits reduce the time served. In some cases (such as certain life sentences) they also move up release eligibility. Parole is decided by the Board of Parole.

We verified the monthly caps from an official Tennessee government page. The statute text was not loaded during this check.

Search the official TDOC Felony Offender Information Lookup 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.

Not yet verified We have not yet verified whether sentence-credit legislation is active here. (tracker checked Oct 16, 2026)

How many sentence credits can you earn in Tennessee?

In TDOC prisons, 6 or 8 days a month for behavior plus 6 or 8 days a month for programs, depending on security status (Tennessee IDOB).

Who reviews sentence credits in Tennessee?

The Inmate Disciplinary Oversight Board.

Limits of OutSooner information
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.

Official statute, regulation, or agency pages only. Last checked Oct 16, 2026, 8:25 AM MT. Spotted an error? Tell us.