AZ SB1171

Establishes two tiers of earned release credits based on offense severity: one day for every two days served for Class 4-6 non-sexual felonies without dangerous/repetitive offender designation, and one day for every six days served for all other offenses.

Earned release credits do not reduce the court-imposed sentence and can be forfeited by the director if a prisoner fails to follow department rules or participate in work, educational, treatment, or training programs.

Prisoners must achieve eighth-grade functional literacy before release on earned credits, with exceptions for inmates with disabilities, Level 5 offenders, foreign nationals, and those with less than six months remaining.

Requires the Department of Corrections to assist released prisoners with Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System enrollment and coordinate with behavioral health authorities and community organizations to provide transition services including housing, employment, and substance abuse treatment support.

Prisoners forfeit five earned release credits for filing frivolous claims, testing positive for prohibited drugs, or other specified misconduct; if insufficient credits exist, they become ineligible to accrue credits until the forfeiture obligation is satisfied.