MS SB2276

Allows meritorious earned-time credits to be applied toward reducing the time required for parole eligibility, specifically for offenders convicted of nonviolent crimes who must serve 25% of their sentence before parole consideration

Limits this earned-time reduction to offenders already eligible for parole under existing law, excluding those convicted of violent crimes, sex crimes, habitual offenders, drug trafficking, or offenses that specifically prohibit parole

Meritorious earned time can be awarded for completing educational programs, participating in work projects, or participating in special incentive programs approved by the Department of Corrections commissioner

Removes meritorious earned-time allowances from the list of sentence reductions that cannot reduce minimum time served before release from custody under Section 47-7-3.2

Effective date of July 1, 2021