An Act To Provide Additional Deductions from a Sentence of Imprisonment for Completion of Education, Mental Health Treatment and Substance Abuse Treatment Programs
Sec. 1. 17-A MRSA §1253, sub-§15 is enacted to read:
The goals that may be assigned in the person's transition plan and the deductions that are earned as a result of achievement of the goals are as follows:
summary
This bill provides for deductions from a prison sentence based on achievement of goals in a person's transition plan for educational, vocational, career or technical training programs or mental health treatment or substance abuse treatment programs for a person who commits a crime on or after October 1, 2017. The deductions are earned upon achievement of a transition plan goal and may not be denied or withdrawn based on consideration of disciplinary factors or daily attendance or a decision of an employee of the Department of Corrections. A person may earn only one deduction per sentence of imprisonment. The goals and the deductions are: for achievement of a high school equivalency diploma, a deduction of 90 days from the sentence; for achievement of an adult high school diploma, a deduction of 120 days; for achievement of an associate degree from an accredited institution of higher education, a deduction of 180 days; for achievement of a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education, a deduction of 365 days; for achievement of completion of a vocational, career or technical training program authorized and approved by the department, a deduction of 60 days; for achievement of completion of a mental health program and treatment course, a deduction of 60 days; and for achievement of completion of a substance abuse program and treatment course, a deduction of 60 days.