SB 159: Inmate Earned Time Formula for Sentence to Department of Corrections - Colorado

Final Act → Signed Act · 5 edits · May 19, 2026

MODERATE

This bill amends Colorado's earned time and achievement earned time statutes to adjust credit limits for certain inmates and create a new working group to address prison overcrowding. It increases the standard earned time credit from 12 to 14 days per month for eligible inmates and raises the maximum achievement earned time from 120 to 150 days for those completing specific behavioral health milestones. Additionally, it establishes a Department of Corrections Comprehensive Planning Working Group to assess prison capacity, identify release bottlenecks, and develop strategies to manage population growth.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of the Department of Corrections' planning efforts by creating a new statutory working group with representatives from various criminal justice stakeholders, including the Senate, to address systemic issues like overcrowding and release processes.

ELIGIBILITY

Increased the maximum earned time deduction from 12 days to 14 days per month for inmates serving specific felony sentences who meet performance standards.

Raised the cap on achievement earned time from 120 days to 150 days for offenders who successfully complete behavioral health programs related to their underlying offense.

REQUIREMENT

Created a new 'Department of Corrections Comprehensive Planning Working Group' to assess prison programming efficacy, identify release process inefficiencies, and manage prison population growth.

Mandated that the new working group include specific new members, such as a behavioral health expert and medical professional appointed by the President of the Senate.

TECHNICAL

Corrected formatting inconsistencies and typos in the statute text, such as spacing and capitalization errors.

Rerevised → Final Act · 4 edits · May 4, 2026

MODERATE

This bill finalizes amendments to Colorado's earned time and release policies, expanding incentives for inmates to participate in rehabilitation programs. It specifically creates a new exception allowing inmates convicted of serious violent felonies to earn up to 14 days of time per month (instead of the standard 12) if they complete specific behavioral health milestones. Additionally, it establishes a new Working Group to develop a data-driven plan for managing prison capacity and addressing overcrowding.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include a specific exception for inmates with prior serious felony convictions who successfully complete targeted behavioral health programs, whereas the original version did not contain this specific carve-out.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a specific provision allowing inmates convicted of serious violent felonies to earn up to 14 days of time per month if they complete behavioral health milestones related to their underlying offense.

REQUIREMENT

Created a new 'Department of Corrections Comprehensive Planning Working Group' to develop a data-driven capacity management plan involving input from staff, incarcerated people, victims, and experts.

Updated policy directives to explicitly require the Department of Corrections to maximize incentives for self-improvement activities, including therapeutic and educational programming.

Added specific policy requirements to increase credit awards for sustained work assignments and for the completion of specific programs.

Revised → Rerevised · 3 edits · Apr 30, 2026

MINOR

The bill was updated to reflect that it has been rerevised to include all amendments adopted in the second house, and the list of house sponsors was expanded to include six additional legislators. Additionally, a specific provision regarding credit awards for offenders completing milestones in behavioral health programs related to their underlying offense was removed from the text.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding house sponsorship was expanded to include more representatives, while a specific eligibility provision for behavioral health program milestones was removed.

TECHNICAL

The document header was updated to change the status from 'Revised' to 'Rerevised' and clarified that amendments were adopted in the second house.

The list of house co-sponsors was expanded to include Boesenecker, English, Jackson, Lindsay, Ricks, Rydin, Sirota, Smith, and Zokaie.

ELIGIBILITY

A provision granting earned time credit to offenders who successfully complete milestones in behavioral health programs related to their underlying offense was deleted.

Reengrossed → Revised · 3 edits · Apr 29, 2026

MINOR

The bill was reclassified from a 'Reengrossed' version to a 'Revised' version, indicating it has been amended on second reading in the second house. The text includes new headers and dates, and adds a specific provision allowing offenders to earn up to 150 days of achievement time based on intake assessments, while also permitting an additional 60 days for exceptional conduct that promotes staff safety.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on managing the capacity of the Department of Corrections, but the revised version clarifies the timeline of amendments and introduces specific earned time thresholds.

TIMELINE

Added a header indicating the bill is 'Revised' and includes amendments adopted on second reading in the second house, along with a specific date of April 29, 2026.

REQUIREMENT

Established a new requirement that offenders can earn a total of 150 days of achievement time based on needs identified during intake assessments.

ELIGIBILITY

Created a new eligibility criterion allowing offenders to earn an additional 60 days of time if they demonstrate exceptional conduct that promotes the safety of correctional staff, volunteers, or contractors.

Engrossed → Reengrossed · 4 edits · Apr 20, 2026

MODERATE

The bill's title was updated from 'Engrossed' to 'Reengrossed' to reflect the inclusion of all amendments adopted during the House of Introduction. Additionally, the list of Senate co-sponsors was expanded to include five new legislators (Benavidez, Coleman, Exum, Jodeh, Kipp, Marchman, Sullivan, and Wallace). A placeholder note regarding a future bill summary was inserted, and a specific section detailing the maximum number of achievement earned time days for exceptional conduct was removed.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding earned time calculations was reduced by removing the provision that allowed up to 60 days of achievement earned time per instance of exceptional conduct, capping the total at 120 days.

TECHNICAL

The bill status header was changed from 'Engrossed' to 'Reengrossed' to indicate the inclusion of all amendments.

A note was inserted regarding the availability of a future bill summary for the reengrossed version.

ELIGIBILITY

The bill added eight new Senate co-sponsors to the list of supporters.

REQUIREMENT

The provision allowing offenders to receive up to 60 days of achievement earned time per instance of exceptional conduct was deleted.

Introduced → Engrossed · 5 edits · Apr 17, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was amended to expand eligibility for earned time credits, increase the maximum daily accrual from ten to fourteen days for most inmates, and introduce a new category for 'achievement earned time' for exceptional conduct or program milestones. The changes also clarify policy requirements to incentivize participation in self-improvement and therapeutic programs.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include specific eligibility criteria for offenders with prior felony convictions who were previously excluded from standard earned time programs, and it increased the maximum monthly accrual rate.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded eligibility to include inmates serving sentences for specific felony crimes (such as certain drug felonies and vehicle theft) who were previously ineligible for earned time.

REQUIREMENT

Increased the maximum earned time deduction from ten days to fourteen days per month of incarceration or parole.

Added a new provision allowing up to 150 days of 'achievement earned time' for offenders who complete specific program milestones or demonstrate exceptional conduct promoting safety.

Directed the Department of Corrections to update policies to maximize incentives for participation in educational, vocational, therapeutic, and reentry programs.

DEFINITION

Clarified and reorganized the statutory sections to distinguish between standard earned time and the new achievement earned time categories.

Inmate Earned Time Formula for Sentence to Department of Corrections

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