Bill > HB728

This bill modifies provisions related to good time credit for offenders in the Missouri Department of Corrections, changing the system from a discretionary to a more structured approach. The bill mandates that offenders shall receive additional credit for days spent in confinement when meeting specific requirements, replacing the previous system where credit was optional. The director of corrections must now create a policy that rewards offenders who serve their sentence peacefully and participate in rehabilitation programs. Offenders can earn between 5 and 360 days of credit for completing specific programs like obtaining a high school diploma, finishing drug treatment, participating in restorative justice, or other approved activities. Major rule violations, criminal law infractions, or accumulating six minor conduct violations in a calendar year can result in loss of previously earned credits. Offenders are limited to earning 90 days of credit per year, and the bill allows retroactive credit application for programs completed between 2010 and 2025, with a specific petition window in 2026. Importantly, offenders sentenced to death or life without parole remain ineligible for good time credit, and the parole board retains discretion over release dates despite earned credits.

Government Affairs, Justice

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB728&year=2025&code=R