SLS 21RS-298 ORIGINAL
2021 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 85
BY SENATOR ABRAHAM
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE. Provides relative to the rate at which certain prisoners earn "good
time". (gov sig)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 15:571.3(B)(2)(a) and (c), relative to diminution of sentence for
3 good behavior; to provide that all prisoners convicted of certain offenses earn "good
4 time" at the same rate regardless of the date the offense was committed or the date
5 of conviction; and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 15:571.3(B)(2)(a) and (c) are hereby amended and reenacted to read
8 as follows:
9 ยง571.3. Diminution of sentence for good behavior
10 * * *
11 B. * * *
12 * * *
13 (2)(a) An offender convicted of a crime of violence as defined in R.S.
14 14:2(B), without a prior conviction of a crime of violence as defined in R.S. 14:2(B)
15 or a prior conviction of a sex offense as defined in R.S. 15:541, shall earn
16 diminution of sentence at a rate of one day for every three days in actual custody
17 held on the imposed sentence, including time spent in custody with good behavior
Page 1 of 2
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 85
SLS 21RS-298 ORIGINAL
1 prior to sentencing for the particular sentence imposed as authorized by Code of
2 Criminal Procedure Article 880.
3 * * *
4 (c) The provisions of this Paragraph shall apply only to offenders who
5 commit an offense or whose probation or parole is revoked on or after November 1,
6 2017 regardless of the date of the commission of the offense or the date of the
7 conviction.
8 * * *
9 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
10 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
11 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
12 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
13 effective on the day following such approval.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Alden A. Clement Jr.
DIGEST
SB 85 Original 2021 Regular Session Abraham
Present law provides that a prisoner serving time for a felony crime of violence, without a
prior conviction of a crime of violence or sex offense, earns diminution of sentence for good
behavior "good time" at a rate of one day for every three days in actual custody; however,
present law does not apply to an offender whose instant conviction is for a crime that is
listed in present law as both as a crime of violence and a sex offense. Present law applies
only to a prisoner who committed the offense on or after November 1, 2017.
Proposed law deletes the provision of present law that makes the one-for-three "good time"
rate only applicable to prisoners who committed the offense on or after November 1, 2017,
and makes that rate applicable regardless of the date of the commission of the offense or the
date of conviction.
Proposed law otherwise retains present law.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 15:571.3(B)(2)(a) and (c))
Page 2 of 2
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.