1. Each inmate committed to the custody of the director of the department of corrections
is eligible to earn a reduction of sentence in the manner provided in this section. For purposes
of calculating the amount of time by which an inmate’s sentence may be reduced, inmates
shall be grouped into the following three sentencing categories:
a. (1) Category “A” sentences are those sentences which are not subject to a maximum
accumulation of earned time of fifteen percent of the total sentence of confinement under
section 902.12 or 902.13 and are not category “C” sentences. To the extent provided in
subsection 5, category “A” sentences also include life sentences imposed under section 902.1.
An inmate of an institution under the control of the department of corrections who is serving
a category “A” sentence is eligible for a reduction of sentence equal to one and two-tenths
days for each day the inmate demonstrates good conduct and satisfactorily participates
in any program or placement status identified by the director to earn the reduction. The
programs include but are not limited to the following:
(a) Employment in the institution.
(b) Iowa state industries.
(c) An employment program established by the director.
(d) A treatment program established by the director.
(e) An inmate educational program approved by the director.
(2) However, an inmate required to participate in a sex offender treatment program shall
not be eligible for any reduction of sentence until the inmate participates in and completes a
sex offender treatment program established by the director.
(3) An inmate serving a category “A” sentence is eligible for an additional reduction of
sentence of up to three hundred sixty-five days of the full term of the sentence of the inmate
for exemplary acts. In accordance with section 903A.4, the director shall by policy identify
what constitutes an exemplary act that may warrant an additional reduction of sentence.
b. (1) Category “B” sentences are those sentences which are subject to a maximum
accumulation of earned time of fifteen percent of the total sentence of confinement under
section 902.12 or 902.13 and are not category “C” sentences. An inmate of an institution
under the control of the department of corrections who is serving a category “B” sentence
is eligible for a reduction of sentence equal to fifteen eighty-fifths of a day for each day of
good conduct by the inmate.
(2) An inmate required to participate in a domestic abuse treatment program shall not
be eligible for any reduction of sentence until the inmate participates in and completes a
domestic abuse treatment program established by the director.
c. Category “C” sentences are those sentences for attempted murder described in section
707.11, subsection 5. Notwithstanding paragraphs “a” or “b”, an inmate serving a category
“C” sentence is ineligible for a reduction of sentence under this section.
\n
Tue Dec 09 21:52:20 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 903A (28, 0)
§903A.2, REDUCTION OF SENTENCES 2\n\n 2. Earned time accrued pursuant to this section may be forfeited in the manner prescribed
in section 903A.3.
3. Time served in a jail, municipal holding facility, or another facility prior to actual
placement in an institution under the control of the department of corrections and credited
against the sentence by the court shall accrue for the purpose of reduction of sentence under
this section. Time which elapses during an escape shall not accrue for purposes of reduction
of sentence under this section.
4. Time which elapses between the date on which a person is incarcerated, based upon
a determination of the board of parole that a violation of parole has occurred, and the date
on which the violation of parole was committed shall not accrue for purposes of reduction of
sentence under this section.
5. Earned time accrued by inmates serving life sentences imposed under section 902.1
shall not reduce the life sentence, or any mandatory minimum sentence imposed under
section 902.1, except that earned time accrued shall be credited against the inmate’s life
sentence if the life sentence is commuted to a term of years under section 902.2, but shall
not reduce any mandatory minimum sentence imposed under section 902.1.
83 Acts, ch 147, §3, 14, 15; 90 Acts, ch 1251, §67; 96 Acts, ch 1151, §4; 97 Acts, ch 131, §2,
4; 98 Acts, ch 1100, §88; 2000 Acts, ch 1173, §4, 10; 2003 Acts, 1st Ex, ch 2, §52, 209; 2005
Acts, ch 158, §32; 2011 Acts, ch 22, §2; 2015 Acts, ch 65, §3 – 5; 2016 Acts, ch 1011, §119; 2017
Acts, ch 83, §6, 7; 2017 Acts, ch 122, §18 – 21; 2018 Acts, ch 1172, §64, 65
Referred to in §707.11, 822.2, 903A.3, 903A.4, 903A.7, 903B.1, 903B.2
\n
Notes of Decisions
State of Iowa v. Iowa Dist. Court for Jones Cnty., 902 N.W.2d 811 (Iowa 2017).
· cites it 61× “In January 2016, the IDOC revised its interpretation of Iowa Code section 903A.2 by issuing a new policy that increased the penalty for refusing or removal from SOTP through the retroactive forfeiture of previously accrued earned time.”
Dykstra v. Iowa Dist. Court for Jones Cnty., 783 N.W.2d 473 (Iowa 2010).
· cites it 36× “Applying a 2005 amendment to Iowa Code section 903A.2, IDOC determined Dykstra was no longer eligible for earned time credit.”
Holm v. Iowa Dist. Court for Jones Cnty., 767 N.W.2d 409 (Iowa 2009).
· cites it 35× “See generally Iowa Code § 903A.2 (Supp. 2005). Holm claimed that, as applied to inmates convicted before 2005, a 2005 amendment to Iowa Code section 903A.”
State v. Iowa Dist. Court for Webster Cnty., 801 N.W.2d 513 (Iowa 2011).
· cites it 20× “” Iowa Code § 903A.2(l)(a). Following the suspension of his earned time, Harkins filed the application for postconviction relief at issue in this appeal.”
State v. Iowa Dist. Court for Henry Cnty., 759 N.W.2d 793 (Iowa 2009).
· cites it 30× “See generally Iowa Code § 903A.2 (2005) (providing for reduction in sentence for good conduct and satisfactory participation in specified programs).”
State of Iowa v. Allen Robert Allensworth, 823 N.W.2d 411 (Iowa 2012).
· cites it 40× “He was incarcerated after his probation was revoked. Allensworth contends the Iowa Department of Corrections (IDOC) erroneously withheld his earned-time credit for the probationary period, which would entitle him to release from prison on February 5, 2013.”
Reilly v. Iowa Dist. Court for Henry Cnty., 783 N.W.2d 490 (Iowa 2010).
· cites it 20× “Once removed from SOTP, IDOC stopped Reilly’s ability to earn time to reduce his sentence pursuant to Iowa Code section 903A.2 (Supp.2005). Prior to his removal, Reilly’s tentative discharge date was March 20, 2008.”
In Re the Det. of Shaffer, 769 N.W.2d 169 (Iowa 2009).
· cites it 25× “See Iowa Code § 903A.2. The statutes governing reduction of sentences were amended multiple times during Shaffer’s confinement, 2 and on numerous occasions the department calculated Shaffer’s release date by applying the amendments and other factors.”
Kris Kolzow v. State of Iowa, 813 N.W.2d 731 (Iowa 2012).
· cites it 16× “2 (2009): 1 whether the maximum time incarcerated — two years for the first • revocation — is reduced by (1) “earned-time credit” for good behavior under section 903A.2 or (2) by “jail-time credit” under section 903A.”
State v. Iowa Dist. Court for Black Hawk Cnty., 616 N.W.2d 575 (Iowa 2000).
· cites it 16× “12 requires that defendants convicted of certain forcible felonies, including second-degree robbery, serve 100% of the maximum sentence, subject to the provisions of section 903A.2. See id. § 902.12. The latter statute allows felons convicted of a section 902.”
— Iowa Code § 903A.2(1) — 13 cases
State of Iowa v. Iowa Dist. Court for Jones Cnty., 902 N.W.2d 811 (Iowa 2017).
“In January 2016, the IDOC revised its interpretation of Iowa Code section 903A.2 by issuing a new policy that increased the penalty for refusing or removal from SOTP through the retroactive forfeiture of previously accrued earned time.”
Kris Kolzow v. State of Iowa, 813 N.W.2d 731 (Iowa 2012).
“2 (2009): 1 whether the maximum time incarcerated — two years for the first • revocation — is reduced by (1) “earned-time credit” for good behavior under section 903A.2 or (2) by “jail-time credit” under section 903A.”
— Iowa Code § 903A.2(1)(5) — 1 case
State v. Iowa Dist. Court for Black Hawk Cnty., 616 N.W.2d 575 (Iowa 2000).
“12 requires that defendants convicted of certain forcible felonies, including second-degree robbery, serve 100% of the maximum sentence, subject to the provisions of section 903A.2. See id. § 902.12. The latter statute allows felons convicted of a section 902.”
— Iowa Code § 903A.2(1)(6) — 4 cases
State v. Iowa Dist. Court for Black Hawk Cnty., 616 N.W.2d 575 (Iowa 2000).
“12 requires that defendants convicted of certain forcible felonies, including second-degree robbery, serve 100% of the maximum sentence, subject to the provisions of section 903A.2. See id. § 902.12. The latter statute allows felons convicted of a section 902.”
— Iowa Code § 903A.2(1)(a) — 32 cases
Reilly v. Iowa Dist. Court for Henry Cnty., 783 N.W.2d 490 (Iowa 2010).
“Once removed from SOTP, IDOC stopped Reilly’s ability to earn time to reduce his sentence pursuant to Iowa Code section 903A.2 (Supp.2005). Prior to his removal, Reilly’s tentative discharge date was March 20, 2008.”
Holm v. Iowa Dist. Court for Jones Cnty., 767 N.W.2d 409 (Iowa 2009).
“See generally Iowa Code § 903A.2 (Supp. 2005). Holm claimed that, as applied to inmates convicted before 2005, a 2005 amendment to Iowa Code section 903A.”
— Iowa Code § 903A.2(1)(a)(1) — 3 cases
— Iowa Code § 903A.2(1)(a)(2) — 4 cases
— Iowa Code § 903A.2(1)(a)(4) — 7 cases
— Iowa Code § 903A.2(1)(a)(5) — 1 case
— Iowa Code § 903A.2(1)(b) — 6 cases
— Iowa Code § 903A.2(1)(b)(1) — 1 case
— Iowa Code § 903A.2(1)(u) — 2 cases
State v. Iowa Dist. Court for Black Hawk Cnty., 616 N.W.2d 575 (Iowa 2000).
“12 requires that defendants convicted of certain forcible felonies, including second-degree robbery, serve 100% of the maximum sentence, subject to the provisions of section 903A.2. See id. § 902.12. The latter statute allows felons convicted of a section 902.”
Holm v. Iowa Dist. Court for Jones Cnty., 767 N.W.2d 409 (Iowa 2009).
“See generally Iowa Code § 903A.2 (Supp. 2005). Holm claimed that, as applied to inmates convicted before 2005, a 2005 amendment to Iowa Code section 903A.”
— Iowa Code § 903A.2(2) — 5 cases
State of Iowa v. Iowa Dist. Court for Jones Cnty., 902 N.W.2d 811 (Iowa 2017).
“In January 2016, the IDOC revised its interpretation of Iowa Code section 903A.2 by issuing a new policy that increased the penalty for refusing or removal from SOTP through the retroactive forfeiture of previously accrued earned time.”
— Iowa Code § 903A.2(3) — 2 cases
State of Iowa v. Allen Robert Allensworth, 823 N.W.2d 411 (Iowa 2012).
“He was incarcerated after his probation was revoked. Allensworth contends the Iowa Department of Corrections (IDOC) erroneously withheld his earned-time credit for the probationary period, which would entitle him to release from prison on February 5, 2013.”
— Iowa Code § 903A.2(4) — 2 cases
— Iowa Code § 903A.2(5) — 4 cases
Kris Kolzow v. State of Iowa, 813 N.W.2d 731 (Iowa 2012).
“2 (2009): 1 whether the maximum time incarcerated — two years for the first • revocation — is reduced by (1) “earned-time credit” for good behavior under section 903A.2 or (2) by “jail-time credit” under section 903A.”
— Iowa Code § 903A.2(a)(2) — 1 case
— Iowa Code § 903A.2(l) — 2 cases
State of Iowa v. Allen Robert Allensworth, 823 N.W.2d 411 (Iowa 2012).
“He was incarcerated after his probation was revoked. Allensworth contends the Iowa Department of Corrections (IDOC) erroneously withheld his earned-time credit for the probationary period, which would entitle him to release from prison on February 5, 2013.”
— Iowa Code § 903A.2(l)(a) — 9 cases
State v. Iowa Dist. Court for Webster Cnty., 801 N.W.2d 513 (Iowa 2011).
“” Iowa Code § 903A.2(l)(a). Following the suspension of his earned time, Harkins filed the application for postconviction relief at issue in this appeal.”
Holm v. Iowa Dist. Court for Jones Cnty., 767 N.W.2d 409 (Iowa 2009).
“See generally Iowa Code § 903A.2 (Supp. 2005). Holm claimed that, as applied to inmates convicted before 2005, a 2005 amendment to Iowa Code section 903A.”
State of Iowa v. Iowa Dist. Court for Jones Cnty., 902 N.W.2d 811 (Iowa 2017).
“In January 2016, the IDOC revised its interpretation of Iowa Code section 903A.2 by issuing a new policy that increased the penalty for refusing or removal from SOTP through the retroactive forfeiture of previously accrued earned time.”
— Iowa Code § 903A.2(l)(a)(2) — 1 case
State of Iowa v. Iowa Dist. Court for Jones Cnty., 902 N.W.2d 811 (Iowa 2017).
“In January 2016, the IDOC revised its interpretation of Iowa Code section 903A.2 by issuing a new policy that increased the penalty for refusing or removal from SOTP through the retroactive forfeiture of previously accrued earned time.”
— Iowa Code § 903A.2(l)(a)(4) — 1 case
Holm v. Iowa Dist. Court for Jones Cnty., 767 N.W.2d 409 (Iowa 2009).
“See generally Iowa Code § 903A.2 (Supp. 2005). Holm claimed that, as applied to inmates convicted before 2005, a 2005 amendment to Iowa Code section 903A.”
— Iowa Code § 903A.2(l)(a)(l) — 2 cases
State of Iowa v. Iowa Dist. Court for Jones Cnty., 902 N.W.2d 811 (Iowa 2017).
“In January 2016, the IDOC revised its interpretation of Iowa Code section 903A.2 by issuing a new policy that increased the penalty for refusing or removal from SOTP through the retroactive forfeiture of previously accrued earned time.”
— Iowa Code § 903A.2(l)(b) — 1 case
— Iowa Code § 903A.2(l)(ft)(2) — 1 case
State of Iowa v. Iowa Dist. Court for Jones Cnty., 902 N.W.2d 811 (Iowa 2017).
“In January 2016, the IDOC revised its interpretation of Iowa Code section 903A.2 by issuing a new policy that increased the penalty for refusing or removal from SOTP through the retroactive forfeiture of previously accrued earned time.”
— Iowa Code § 903A.2(l)(u) — 2 cases
State v. Iowa Dist. Court for Webster Cnty., 801 N.W.2d 513 (Iowa 2011).
“” Iowa Code § 903A.2(l)(a). Following the suspension of his earned time, Harkins filed the application for postconviction relief at issue in this appeal.”
Holm v. Iowa Dist. Court for Jones Cnty., 767 N.W.2d 409 (Iowa 2009).
“See generally Iowa Code § 903A.2 (Supp. 2005). Holm claimed that, as applied to inmates convicted before 2005, a 2005 amendment to Iowa Code section 903A.”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the
Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and
treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.