And 11 federal years is a longer sentence than 11 years in most state systems, since there is much less opportunity to serve less than a full sentence in the federal system (short of executive pardon/commutation). There’s very limited good conduct time, but no systematic parole eligibility and early release.
> Federal sentences come with a maximum of 54 days per year [1] of good time credit, and there is no parole when serving federal time.
Right, to the extent a federal convict has supervised release time, its not “I got out early from my prison sentence” but “I was sentenced to supervised release on top of my prison sentence.”
> I bet it’s less than 7 years total and probably serves less than 5.
Unless his sentence is commuted, its not possible for a 7 year federal sentence to result in release in 5; there is no federal parole, and good conduct time is limited to 54 days per year.
> This is the US, the chances of him serving all 10 years is slim, probably parole out after a few. Also anytime he already served in jail will go towards his sentence.
He is serving federal, not state, prison time. “Parole out after a few” only applies to state prison.
Unlike many state systems, in the federal system the sentence is close to the actual time you’ll serve, short of a Presidential commutation or some other special intervention. Other than up to 54 days/year good conduct time, there's not systematic early release.
> If he’s eligible for parole at 1/3 of a 25 year sentence
He is not; there is no federal parole (for people sentenced ib the last ~37 years.) There is “good conduct time” that can reduce time served to not less than ~85% of the time sentenced, so around 21 years minimum.
> Well if it's any consolation he'll probably be out in 3.
The US federal criminal justice system has no parole; other than Presidential pardon or commutation, or the sentence being overturned judicially, you stay in prison for the full term of your sentence, reduced by a maximum of 54 days per year of sentence by good conduct credits. So, best case for a seven year sentence is just under six years.
Federal sentences come with a maximum of 54 days per year [1] of good time credit, and there is no parole when serving federal time. This all but guarantees that a 10 year sentence will result in 102 months of incarceration and release no earlier than that.
> Federal law allows a credit of 54 days for every 365 days (or one year) of good behavior. To be eligible for early release, a person must be sentenced to more than one year in prison. ...
> The maximum number of days that can be awarded for good conduct is 54. The Bureau of Prisons has discretion to award any number of days less than 54 based on its evaluation of the inmate’s conduct.
If sentenced to 30 years in federal prison, you'd be serving 85% of that time -- a bit over 26 years (after 26 years, 1404 days will be credited which is 3.8 years).
Sentences in the United States have a de jure length which is longer than the de facto length. Usually a 27-year convict will be eligible for parole after about 9 years. I didn't see anything in the article about denying parole (which is very rare). Considering the number of people Selezny harmed and the fact that he continued to do so after he knew that there were warrants for his arrest, I think that a decade in prison is a reasonable sanction.
Also, the extended sentence is not so much "to send a message" as it is in response to his evasion of the authorities. That message was sent a long time ago.
The most time you get off your sentence in the federal system is 54 days per year of imprisonment [0]. That's roughly a 1:7 ratio. If he's sentenced to 14 years for example (not by any stretch of the imagination an unbelievable scenario), he'd only get 2 years off for "good behavior," thus serving 12 instead of 14.
You're usually a very accurate poster on legal matters, but this contradicts the linked article:
SBF may serve as little as 12.5 years, if he gets all of the jailhouse credit available to him," Mitchell Epner, a former federal prosecutor, told CNN.
Federal prisoners generally can earn up to 54 days of time credit a year for good behavior, which could result in an approximately 15% reduction.
Since 2018, however, nonviolent federal inmates can reduce their sentence by as much as 50% under prison reform legislation known as the First Step Act.
Are you saying the article is wrong, or did you maybe not consider this possibility?
Federal prisoners must serve a minimum of 85% of their sentence in jail. If he gets 45 years, barring a change in the law, he'll serve at least 38.25 years.
And 11 federal years is a longer sentence than 11 years in most state systems, since there is much less opportunity to serve less than a full sentence in the federal system (short of executive pardon/commutation). There’s very limited good conduct time, but no systematic parole eligibility and early release.
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