Under Wisconsin law, anyone who is sentenced to jail time has the right to “good time.” Good time allows inmates to reduce their sentence by 25%. Someone in jail is eligible for good time if their sentence is at least four days, they maintain good behavior, and they break no laws or jail regulations.

Payment Plans Learn More Free Consult Get Started Today

What is time earned or good time?

If you're sentenced to 20 days in jail, good time credit means you will only serve 15 days. When a sentence doesn't divide evenly into full days, the jail rounds up. For example, a 10-day sentence becomes 7.5 days with good time, but since partial days don't count, you'd serve 8 days.

Good time does not apply to prison sentences or condition time, except in limited cases.

You are only guilty if you are convicted®

Condition Time vs Good Time

When someone is sentenced and put on probation, the judge will impose conditions of probation, and one of those conditions might be jail time. This jail time, as a part of probation, is called condition time. Generally speaking, a sentence with condition time will not be given good time. However, if your charges come with a minimum required sentence, you are entitled to good time. For example, if you are sentenced with 2 years of probation and 30 days condition time on a theft case, you are not entitled to condition time because there is no minimum jail requirement on a theft case. However, if you are sentenced on a case such as an OWI 3rd, you would be given good time because someone convicted of an OWI 3rd offense must serve a minimum of 45 days, even if given probation. You need a lawyer who knows the DUI charges in Wisconsin to represent you. What is the penalty for a driver receiving their third OWI?

Questions about your sentence or potential sentence? Call Grieve Law today.