HF963

Purpose

The bill gives the commissioner of corrections the authority to revoke earned incentive release credits granted under the Minnesota Rehabilitation and Reintegration Act (MRRA) and clarifies how these credits affect prison terms and release obligations.

Main Provisions

• Earned incentive release credits are used to reduce the term of imprisonment, but are not added to the supervised release term (the total length of the supervised release remains unchanged).
• The maximum earned incentive release credits that can be applied to the term of imprisonment is 17% of the total executed sentence.
• Credits cannot reduce the term of imprisonment to less than 50% of the executed sentence.
• Once earned, earned incentive release credits are typically nonrevocable, but they can be revoked if the incarcerated person violates facility rules or commits a criminal act while incarcerated.
• The bill modifies Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 244.44 to implement these rules.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Authorizes the commissioner of corrections to revoke earned incentive release credits for violations of facility rules or new criminal acts committed while incarcerated.
• Establishes a concrete cap (17%) on how much earned incentive release credit can reduce the prison term.
• Statutorily guarantees a minimum prison term of 50% of the executed sentence, even with earned credit.
• Clarifies that earned credits affect only the imprisonment term, not the supervised release term.

Practical Impact

• Inmates can earn credits that reduce their time in prison, but only up to 17% of their sentence and not below 50% of the sentence.
• The supervised release period remains the same, regardless of earned credits.
• Violating facility rules or committing crimes while incarcerated can lead to revocation of previously earned credits.

Terminology Inclusion

• Earned incentive release credits
• Term of imprisonment
• Supervised release term
• Executed sentence
• Minnesota Rehabilitation and Reintegration Act (MRRA)
• Commissioner of corrections
• Revocation / nonrevocable
• Facility rules
• Incarcerated
• Maximum credit percentage (17%)

Relevant Terms

earned incentive release credits, term of imprisonment, supervised release term, executed sentence, MRRA, Minnesota Rehabilitation and Reintegration Act, commissioner of corrections, revocation, nonrevocable, facility rules, incarcerated, 17% cap, 50% minimum sentence