I. The commissioner, after reviewing a prisoner’s record, shall award to a prisoner or recommend that the prisoner receive a one-time reduction in his or her minimum and maximum sentences for successful completion of each of the following programs while incarcerated, and shall establish procedures for each program, which shall be exempt from RSA 541-A, for awarding such reductions:
(a) Education Programs:
(1) High School Equivalency Certificate 90 day reduction in the prisoner’s minimum sentence and 90 day reduction in the prisoner’s maximum sentence.
(2) High School Diploma 120 day reduction in the prisoner’s minimum sentence and 120 day reduction in the prisoner’s maximum sentence.
(3) Associate’s Degree 180 day reduction in the prisoner’s minimum sentence and 180 day reduction in the prisoner’s maximum sentence.
(4) Bachelor’s Degree 180 day reduction in the prisoner’s minimum sentence and 180 day reduction in the prisoner’s maximum sentence.
(5) Master’s Degree 180 day reduction in the prisoner’s minimum sentence and 180 day reduction in the prisoner’s maximum sentence.
(6) Doctorate Degree 180 day reduction in the prisoner’s minimum sentence and 180 day reduction in the prisoner’s maximum sentence.
(b) Vocational Programming. A prisoner who successfully completes a vocational program that is authorized and approved by the department or who successfully completes a vocational program that the commissioner deems to be valuable to the prisoner’s rehabilitation, shall be entitled to a one-time reduction of 60 days in his or her minimum sentence and a one-time reduction of 60 days in his or her maximum sentence for each program under subparagraph (a) completed.
(c) Mental Health Programming. A prisoner who meaningfully participates in recommended or mandated mental health and/or substance use treatment that is authorized and approved by the department or that the commissioner deems to be valuable to the prisoner’s rehabilitation, shall be entitled to a one-time reduction of 60 days in his or her minimum sentence and a one-time reduction of 60 days in his or her maximum sentence.
(d) Participation in Family Connections Center Programming. A prisoner who is a parent and who meaningfully participates in the programming offered by the Family Connections Center that the commissioner deems to be valuable to the prisoner’s rehabilitation, shall be entitled to a one-time reduction of 60 days in his or her minimum sentence and a one-time reduction of 60 days in his or her maximum sentence.
(e) Correctional Industries On-the-Job Training. A prisoner who is awarded a certificate or certificate of apprenticeship in a correctional industries job that is authorized and approved by the department that the commissioner deems to be valuable to the prisoner’s rehabilitation shall be entitled to a one-time reduction of 60 days in his or her minimum sentence and a one-time reduction of 60 days in his or her maximum sentence for each master’s certificate earned.
(f) Other Programs. A prisoner who meaningfully participates in any program that is authorized and approved by the department that the commissioner deems to be valuable to the prisoner’s rehabilitation which are not covered under subparagraphs (a) through (e) shall be entitled to a one-time reduction of 60 days in his or her minimum sentence and a one-time reduction of 60 days in his or her maximum sentence for each program completed.
II. The earned time reductions authorized in paragraph I of this section shall be available to prisoners who were incarcerated on or after the effective date of this section and who have been granted this option by the presiding justice at the time of sentencing. The earned time reductions authorized in paragraph I of this section shall be available to prisoners who were incarcerated prior to the effective date of this section upon recommendation of the commissioner and upon approval of the sentencing court in response to a petition which is timely brought by the prisoner.
III. The earned time reductions authorized in paragraph I of this section shall only be earned and available to prisoners while in the least restrictive security classifications of general population and minimum security. The earned time may be forfeited for involvement or membership in a security threat group, attempted escape, escape, or commission of any category A offense listed in the department of corrections policy and procedure directives.
IV. The earned time reductions granted under this section shall not exceed 21 months off the prisoner’s minimum sentence and 21 months off the prisoner’s maximum sentence.
Source. 2014, 166:1, eff. Sept. 9, 2014. 2016, 172:1, eff. Aug. 2, 2016. 2020, 37:1, eff. Sept. 27, 2020.