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social science subjects > sociology > crime and deviance > parole > good time and merit time

Preferred term

good time and merit time  

Definition

  • Good-time or merit-time credit, which is time credited to a prisoner's sentence for desired behavior or participation in prison programs, has historically been a means for corrections officials to control prison crowding, conserve resources, and provide incentives for prisoners to behave well while incarcerated, in the hope of transitioning that positive behavior into the community upon release. As the criminal justice system has evolved, such credits have remained useful to prison officials. [Source: Encyclopedia of Community Corrections; Good Time and Merit Time]

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https://concepts.sagepub.com/social-science/concept/good_time_and_merit_time

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