Wichita Bail Bonds Blog

In the context of federal sentencing, the phrase “85% of 5 years” often comes up when discussing how much time a person will actually serve in prison. This percentage is tied to federal law, specifically the Prison Litigation Reform Act and the rules set by the Bureau of Prisons. These guidelines allow most inmates to earn good conduct time, which can reduce the total time they serve.

Understanding 85% of 5 years

A sentence of 5 years equals 60 months. If an inmate is eligible for good conduct credit, they may only need to serve 85% of that time. Here’s the breakdown,

• 5 years = 60 months
• 85% of 60 months = 51 months
• The remaining 9 months may be reduced through earned time credits

This means the person would serve approximately 4 years and 3 months behind bars if they maintain good behavior and meet all program requirements. These reductions are not guaranteed. They depend on the inmate following prison rules and avoiding disciplinary actions.

Why 85% is important

Under federal law, most inmates must serve at least 85% of their sentence before becoming eligible for release. This is different from some state systems, where parole or early release can happen much sooner. In the federal system, parole was abolished for crimes committed after 1987, so the only reductions come from good conduct and other earned time programs.

Key exceptions

Certain offenses, like violent crimes or repeat offenses, may limit or remove the possibility of earning good time. Also, if an inmate violates rules or refuses to participate in assigned programs, they may lose their time credits and end up serving the full 5 years.

Serving 85% of a 5-year federal sentence means about 51 months, or 4 years and 3 months. While this reduction helps many inmates shorten their time, it still requires consistent good behavior and compliance with prison rules. For anyone facing federal charges, understanding this rule is necessary for managing expectations and planning for reentry.