Mississippi Code
Miss. Code Ann. § 47-5-142 (2026)
Meritorious earned time
✓ current as of July 2026
- (1) In order to provide incentive for offenders to achieve positive and worthwhile accomplishments for their personal benefit or the benefit of others, and in addition to any other administrative reductions of the length of an offender's sentence, any offender shall be eligible, subject to the provisions of this section, to receive meritorious earned time as distinguished from earned time for good conduct and performance.
- (2) Subject to approval by the commissioner of the terms and conditions of the program or project, meritorious earned time may be awarded for the following:
- (a) successful completion of educational or instructional programs;
- (b) satisfactory participation in work projects; and
- (c) satisfactory participation in any special incentive program.
- (3) The programs and activities through which meritorious earned time may be received shall be published in writing and posted in conspicuous places at all facilities of the department and such publication shall be made available to all offenders in the custody of the department.
- (4) The commissioner shall make a determination of the number of days of reduction of sentence which may be awarded an offender as meritorious earned time for participation in approved programs or projects; the number of days shall be determined by the commissioner on the basis of each particular program or project.
- (5) No offender shall be awarded any meritorious earned time while assigned to the maximum security facilities for disciplinary purposes.
- (6) All meritorious earned time shall be forfeited by the offender in the event of escape and/or aiding and abetting an escape.
- (7) Any officer or employee of the department who shall willfully violate the provisions of this section and be convicted therefor shall be removed from office or employment.
- (8) An offender may forfeit all or any part of his meritorious earned time allowance for just cause upon the written order of the commissioner or his designee. Any meritorious earned time allowance forfeited under this section shall not be restored nor shall it be re-earned by the offender.
Laws, 1985, ch. 531, § 1; Laws, 1992, ch. 520, § 4; Laws, 2009, ch. 316, § 1, eff. 3/9/2009.
Brought forward by Laws, 2014, ch. 457, HB 585, 73, eff. 7/1/2014.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 12
cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1991–2023 · leading case: Williams v. Puckett, 624 So. 2d 496 (Miss. 1993).
Williams v. Puckett, 624 So. 2d 496 (Miss. 1993). “The term "meritorious earned time" refers to commutation authorized in Miss. Code Ann. § 47-5-142 (1972), as an incentive for completion of educational programs or participation in work projects or other special incentive programs.”
Milam v. State, 578 So. 2d 272 (Miss. 1991). “See Miss. Code Ann. § 47-5-142 (Supp. 1990). Taking as true the facts Milam presents in the record, he began the service of his ten-year armed robbery sentence on February 5, 1980, the date of his initial arrest.”
Richard Harrison Mason v. Mississippi Dep't of Corr., 248 So. 3d 840 (Miss. Ct. App. 2017). “" Miss. Code Ann. § 47-5-142 (Rev. 2015). The Mississippi Department of Corrections disagreed, and after Mason brought this lawsuit, the circuit court found him ineligible as well.”
Terrence Clark v. Mississippi Dep't of Corr., 148 So. 3d 403 (Miss. Ct. App. 2014). “2002) (citing Miss.Code Ann. § 47-5-142 (Rev. 2000)). ¶ 8.”
Green v. Sparkman, 829 So. 2d 1290 (Miss. Ct. App. 2002). “Miss.Code Ann. § 47-5-142 (Rev.2000). Green had no right to receive this privilege.”
Lizana v. Scott, 910 So. 2d 31 (Miss. Ct. App. 2005). “Miss.Code Ann. § 47-5-142(4) (Rev.2004). In other words, Lizana may be eligible for release after serving twenty-seven years of his sentence, which began on December 11, 1985.”
Donnie Sylvester v. State of Mississippi, 171 So. 3d 529 (Miss. Ct. App. 2014). “”) (emphasis added); Miss.Code Ann. § 47-5-142(2) (Rev. 2011) ("Subject to approval by the commissioner of the terms and conditions of the program or project, meritorious earned time may be awarded .”
Calvin Lee Robinson v. Mississippi Dep't of Corr. (Miss. Ct. App. 2023). “Calvin Lee Robinson appeals from the Carroll County Circuit Court’s order dismissing his petition for judicial review filed after the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) denied his request to participate in the Meritorious Earned Time (MET) Incentive Program, Miss. Code…”
Matthew Joseph Givens a/k/a Matthew J. Givens v. Mississippi Dep't of Corr.; (Miss. Ct. App. 2019). “” Miss. Code Ann. § 47-5-142 (Rev. 2015). He filed two separate requests for relief through the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) administrative remedy program.”
Lonnie Ulmer a/k/a Lonnie E. Ulmer Jr. v. State of Mississippi (Miss. Ct. App. 2020). “” (emphasis added)); Miss. Code Ann. § 47-5-142 (2) (Rev. 2011) (“Subject to approval by the commissioner of the terms and conditions of the program or project, meritorious earned time may be awarded .”
Earnest Herring v. Mississippi Dep't of Corr. (Miss. Ct. App. 2020). “” Miss. Code Ann. § 47-5-142 (1) (Rev. 2015).”
Donnie Singleton v. Steve Puckett (Miss. 1995). “Miss. Code Ann. § 47-5-142 (1993). Even though Singleton received his second sentence before the enactment of the statute, the M.”
— Miss. Code Ann. § 47-5-142(2) — 1 case
Donnie Sylvester v. State of Mississippi, 171 So. 3d 529 (Miss. Ct. App. 2014). “”) (emphasis added); Miss.Code Ann. § 47-5-142(2) (Rev. 2011) ("Subject to approval by the commissioner of the terms and conditions of the program or project, meritorious earned time may be awarded .”
— Miss. Code Ann. § 47-5-142(4) — 1 case
Lizana v. Scott, 910 So. 2d 31 (Miss. Ct. App. 2005). “Miss.Code Ann. § 47-5-142(4) (Rev.2004). In other words, Lizana may be eligible for release after serving twenty-seven years of his sentence, which began on December 11, 1985.”
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