Awards credits to reduce the parole eligibility date of inmates who participate in college and associate degree educational programming.

This bill (S 1453) amends New Jersey law to allow inmates participating in college or associate degree programs to earn time credits toward reducing their parole eligibility date. Currently, inmates receive up to one day off parole eligibility for every five days in "productive occupations" like vocational training; this bill explicitly adds college/associate degree programs to that category. The credits would apply to all inmates in correctional facilities who complete these educational programs, without affecting existing good behavior deductions or other sentence credits. The bill does not change current wage or compensation rules for inmates.