LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AGENCY
OFFICE OF FISCAL AND MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS
200 W. Washington St., Suite 301
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 233-0696
iga.in.gov
FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
LS 6773 NOTE PREPARED: Dec 23, 2020
BILL NUMBER: SB 221 BILL AMENDED:
SUBJECT: Credit Time Classes.
FIRST AUTHOR: Sen. Tallian BILL STATUS: As Introduced
FIRST SPONSOR:
FUNDS AFFECTED: X GENERAL IMPACT: State & Local
DEDICATED
FEDERAL
Summary of Legislation: This bill changes credit Class A to include any noncredit restricted felon who is
charged with a crime. It also changes credit Class B to permit a credit restricted felon imprisoned for a crime,
or imprisoned and awaiting trial or sentencing for a crime, to earn one day of good time credit for every three
days of confinement.
Effective Date: July 1, 2021.
Explanation of State Expenditures: This bill could reduce DOC’s population by permitting offenders to
be released earlier than currently scheduled. This will result in expenditure savings beginning in FY 2022
and each year going forward. OFMA cannot determine the extent of this population reduction.
Credit class determines the amount of credit time that an offender may receive based on compliant behavior.
The following table shows the amount of good time credit that an offender can earn based on the credit class
the offender is assigned to according to IC 35-50-6-3.1.
Credit Class Credit Time Earned:
A one day good time credit for each day confined or pretrial
B one day good time credit for every three days of confinement
C one day good time credit for every six days of confinement
D none
The following table shows the number of offenders by the currently assigned credit class who were confined
SB 221 1
in DOC facilities on December 1, 2020, and the fiscal year of their projected release.
As an example, 1,653 persons are currently assigned to Credit Class B and are scheduled for release in FY
2023. If these offenders in Credit Class B were reassigned to Credit Class A, the majority could be released
in FY 2022.
Offenders in DOC Facilities on December 1, 2020
by Current Credit Class and Year of Projected Early Release
Projected Year FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY
of Release 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029
A 939 444 232 151 92 53 44 25
B 2,374 1,653 1,141 758 497 426 292 239
C 81 71 42 34 18 9 17 7
The average expenditure to house an adult offender in a DOC facility was $21,551 annually, or $59 daily,
during FY 2020. (This does not include the cost of new construction.) If offenders can be housed in existing
facilities with no additional staff, the marginal cost for medical care, food, and clothing is estimated at $3,524
annually, or $9.66 daily, per prisoner. These marginal cost estimates are based on contractual agreements
with food and medical vendors and projections based on prior years for clothing and hygiene. The estimated
average cost of housing a juvenile in a state juvenile facility was $89,998 annually, or $246.40 per day, in
FY 2020. The marginal cost for juvenile facilities was $3,969 annually or $10.87 daily.
Explanation of State Revenues:
Explanation of Local Expenditures: Releasing confined offenders earlier than currently scheduled could
increase the workload on community supervision agencies. The specific effect will likely depend on the
number of offenders who are released earlier than currently scheduled in each jurisdiction.
Explanation of Local Revenues:
State Agencies Affected: Department of Correction.
Local Agencies Affected: Probation departments; Community corrections agencies.
Information Sources: Department of Correction.
Fiscal Analyst: Mark Goodpaster, 317-232-9852.
SB 221 2


Statutes affected:
1. Introduced Senate Bill (S): 35-50-6-4, 35-50-6-5