Bill > HB966

This bill modifies Missouri's good time credit system for offenders in the Department of Corrections by changing the policy from discretionary to mandatory. The legislation requires the department to create a policy that awards additional credit days to offenders who participate in rehabilitation programs, with credits ranging from 5 to 360 days based on program completion. Offenders can earn credit for activities such as obtaining a high school diploma, completing drug or alcohol treatment programs, participating in restorative justice, and other qualifying programs, with a maximum of 90 days of credit earned per year. The bill mandates that major conduct violations, parole revocations, or accumulation of minor conduct violations can result in loss of previously earned credits. Importantly, the policy shifts from allowing superintendents to recommend credits to requiring systematic calculation of credits. The bill also includes a retroactive provision allowing offenders to petition for credits for programs completed between 2010 and 2025, with a specific application window in 2026. Offenders sentenced to death or life without parole remain ineligible for good time credits. The overall goal appears to be incentivizing rehabilitation and providing a structured pathway for offenders to reduce their sentences through productive participation in programs.