Get Texas Jail Time Credit 2018-2024

In Texas, a Sheriff is empowered to provide “good conduct credit” pursuant to Code of Criminal Procedure Article 42.032. Often this is 2-for-1 credit, although occasionally it is 3-for-1 credit. City time is calculated day-for-day.

What can be determined is how long an offender must serve before the parole board will consider their case. If the offender was sentenced to five years for committing a 3(g) offense they must serve half of their sentence, two and a half years, before the parole board can consider them for parole.

On a 3(g) offense an TDCJ inmate must serve half of their sentence before being eligible for parole but they must serve two years before being eligible. Therefore, if an offender was sentenced to two years they will not become eligible for parole. If they are sentenced to three years they will eligible after two years.

State jail felons generally serve every day of their sentence. Time served for misdemeanors in Texas varies by county. In Harris County, misdemeanor defendants usually get two days credit for one day served. In counties with more crowded jails, a defendant may get three days credit for each day served.

If you have spent any time in jail you want that period of time to count towards any future sentence. In Texas, we call the days spent in jail before sentencing “back time”, and if you are convicted and sentenced to jail time or prison in a case, we award “back time credit” which counts towards your sentence.