RRRI or How to avoid the parole board: Recidivism Risk Reduction Incentive

Filed under: Criminal Law, News Tags: by Steven F. Fairlie @ September 27, 2009

What is RRRI?  How does it get Pennsylvania prisoners out of jail early, without seeing the parole board?

Recidivism Risk Reduction Incentive (RRRI) (pronounced triple R I) is a new sentencing program that gives mostly non-violent offenders an opportunity to get out of jail early, without meeting Pennsylvania’s parole board (which is notoriously slow and problematic) if they comply with a host of requirements.

If you have any prior history or open cases involving violent crimes, including personal injury crimes, sex crimes, and Megan’s Law offenses, you are ineligible as a a matter of law, unless your attorney can convince the District Attorney to waive the ineligibility. The program is agreed to at the time of sentencing, and requires that you serve a state sentence and be supervised by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.

If you are deemed RRRI eligible by your trial judge, you get past classification and go to your base state correctional institution, you will be given a list of classes and tasks to perform to become a RRRI candidate. If you do these things, you will be eligible at your RRRI parole date.

The benefit is that you will be paroled much earlier than you would if you were not serving a RRRI sentence.  If you receive a sentence of 3-6 years or less, your RRRI minimum will be 3/4 the value of your minimum. If your sentence is greater than 3-6 years, your RRRI minimum will be 5/6 of your minimum.   Not only are you eligible to be paroled to the street earlier this way, but you will be “presumptively paroled” on that date.   This means that you don’t have to wait for the parole board to get around to see you (which can happen months after your eligibility date) nor risk that they won’t parole you once they finally so see you (a fate that is very common).

The effect of the RRRI program is that a prisoner sentenced to 3-6 years in a state correctional institution, who previously might have served 39 months or much more, will now be automatically paroled at 27 months, for a discount of a year or more of his life.

200 comments:

  1. sonia says:

    My fiance caught a case on may 22, 2008. He was found with 499 grams of cocaine and there was two firearms found in his apartment. One firearm was legally under his name and the other firearm was not his. But because it was in his apt he was charged with having a firearm. This was my fiances first offense. He never committed a crime with a firearm. His crime was not a violent crime. Yet they denied him the Triple R.I. I don’t understand why. A firearm was found but not in his person. He was very cooperative with police. Gave them no problems. Why is he not eligible for this program?

  2. Dorothy Tighe says:

    I was wondering when this came into effect. I was told by my husbands attorney that this was new since 1/28/10. Is that true?

  3. It is not unusual for someone to be made “eligible” for RRRI even if they are not. If the correct procedures are followed this can work, but if they are not it won’t. Call us for a consultation.

  4. Christine Powell says:

    My son received RRRI but was classsified. He has done 3/4 of his sentence as of this week. He had a parole hearing in October and was told he would hear something in 4 – 8 weeks. We still are waiting. I called the inmate inquiry and they told me he was a “violent” offender. If he is how could he be eligible for RRRI? He has done all the classes required of him. He has served 23 months, it is time for him to come home.

  5. lorie kahl says:

    My boyfriend was given RRRI during sentencing. He went to camp hill, then to his home jail. He asked a counselor about the status/progress concerning the RRRI. His counselor then responded back saying that he didn’t Have RRRI. He showed the paperwork saying he did. Could that be a mistake or could the judge have taken it away? What should he do?

  6. Call us and we can review the paperwork to find out if they are correct.

  7. If the knife was considered a deadly weapon, which is likely, then he is likely not eligible for RRRI. You should submit the paperwork from NJ to a qualified Pennsylvania Lawyer for review to determine whether he is eligible or not.

  8. Tasha says:

    My boyfriend was sentenced to 15-30 months. The judge stated that he may not be eligible for RRRI because of a weapons charge in the state of New Jersey. The weapons charge was a class 4 felony, possession of a knife, does that make him ineligible?

  9. Elsie says:

    My fiancé was issued a 3/10 sentence in a state correctional facility in Pennsylvania, he has drug charges. He had no weapons and when I looked up his court summary it said rrri ineligible, could that be changed? He served 8 months so far and is taking classes and learning a trade. If he becomes rrri eligible when would he be up for parole?

  10. You will need to have an attorney review the sentence sheet and affidavit of probable cause to determine why he was ineligible and if a mistake was made. If a mistake was made then it is possible that this is an illegal sentence, which is not waivable. That would mean that even though you are past the appeal deadline it can still be raised. Remember there is a one year deadline to file a PCRA as well. Good luck. Steve

  11. maria roberts says:

    my question is my husband got rrri his sentence was 4 i a half to nine so how much would he actually do ?

  12. Four and one half years is 54 months. RRRI would reduce his minimum to 45 months, which is when he should be presumptively paroled. Best of luck. Steve

  13. pamela smith says:

    if a person already had there sentencing can they still get RRRI? I think this is a great program and hopefully the programs they are required to do are hard programs for them to complete and want to change as a mental health tech I think this is wonderful for non violent offenders. But if already sentenced and they didn’t bring this up at court there should be a way for them to be able to still get the benefit.

  14. I don’t think you can get RRRI unless the sentencing Judge specifies eligibility on the Order. The good news is that if someone was eligible and it was not done you could probably get relief through appeal or PCRA since an issue pertaining to the legality of sentencing is never waived. Contact us if you want to go over the details of your case.

  15. Emma Thompson says:

    My daughter’s father received a mandatory 5 year sentence for drug possession with the intent to deliver (marijuana) and possession of a firearm (bb gun that police say were found on top of the marijuana). He has already served over 2 yrs. At this point, is there anything that can be done to see if the district attorney would wave the eligibility requirement for him to become eligible? He’s also being told about something called “good-time” were a certain amount of time is knocked of a sentence for each year the person completes as long as they maintain good behavior. Do you know anything about this?
    Thanks for your help!

  16. Unfortunately it is not likely that anyone can help you on either count. The RRRI sentence must be imposed at the time of sentencing. If a defendant is not given RRRI even though he is entitled to it then it becomes an illegal sentence which can be challenged at any time, but if the DA did not have to agree then it is not an illegal sentence. The only possible solution here would be to try to get the DA to agree to it after the fact, which is unlikely enough that I would not want to take your money to attempt that absent some strongly compelling circumstance. In Montgomery County and Bucks County, where I do most of my work, you can get good time on a county sentence. I am not familiar with a “good time” program (other than RRRI) in state prison.

  17. Emma Thompson says:

    Thank you. I appreciate your reply!

  18. Jasmyn says:

    So my fiance was released to a halfway house and endd up leaving before he was released. He has been on the run for almost 5 yrs and was just picked up on an outstanding misdamenor warrent in a different state. They are extraditing him back to pennsylvania. His original charges were non violent. Would he be eligible for RRRI going back in?

  19. He would not be eligible because he was not originally sentenced to RRRI. He could only get that if he found a way to be re-sentenced. Get a good lawyer.

  20. Jasmyn says:

    So pretty much he is going to have to do the two yrs remaining on original sentence plus whatever additional time he gets for fleeing the halfway house?

  21. That part is up to your lawyer and a lot of variables, but he won’t be eligible for RRRI on the original sentence.

  22. Jasmyn says:

    Ok. Thank you for your responses i just wanted to see what to prepare myself and our children for.

  23. Monique says:

    My girlfriend got 15 to 36 mnths and RRRI eligible in 9mos. She got into a fight but it was foiund that the fight was not her fault but her RRRI date was 12/26/12 but since she was in the hole he couldn’t get out on that date she has to see the parole board now because she missed her date…she has to get one vote for parole. what is the chances she will be released? it was said that she didn’t actually loose her date but the board could give her a hit for the fight even though it was shown not her fault on the tape. I want to know what to expect. cn she have on offense on the program?

  24. RRRI can result in presumptive parole, but it does not absolve the inmate for any bad conduct while in prison. Imagine the inmate murders another inmate during incarceration – they are not going to let her go at her RRRI date. Where someone is in the hole at the presumptive release date she will not be released and release will likely be delayed a period of months, though there is no set time frame.

  25. Lauren says:

    Hello, I came across this website and was pleasantly surprised to see some great information. I thought I would inquire more info considering I am experiencing the same circumstances. My boyfriend is currently serving a 5-10 sentence for drug possession and intent to deliver. It is considered a non violent crime and he tells me he is eligible for triple RI. He already served 28 months. When is he eligible for
    this program? And, is there any new programs or incentives he may be offered since he is a nonviolent offender and is an honor block inmate with no bad behavior and first time offender? Thank you for your time

  26. If he is otherwise eligible for RRRI then he should file a PCRA (late) arguing that he was given an illegal sentence. If he got a five year mandatory based on weight or a gun then he is likely not eligible, but otherwise, depending on any prior record, he probably is eligible. You don’t get RRRI unless it gets marked on the sentence sheet at the time of sentencing. Good luck. Steve

  27. Michele says:

    If someone is sentenced to 3 -6 years in Pa and already have time served of 2 to 3 months, are eligible for RRI, do you think the SIP program is a better choice to try for? The 3 to 6 years is from 2 county charges that are going to be served concurrent.

  28. SIP would be better because it is a flat 24 month sentence and typically it starts with just 7 months of therapeutic treatment/detention and then steps down security from there.

  29. Michele Reilly says:

    Does he have to be offered SIP or can his lawyer suggest it. Do they offer it after classification ever?

  30. I don’t think he can be offered it – I think it has to be done at the time of sentencing. You should contact his original lawyer and ask why he did not get it – there may be a good reason.

  31. Michele says:

    I wish we had retained you. I asked both his lawyers several times and one said he had not been offered it, the other didn’t even know what it was at first. This is his first and last offence, nonviolent marijuana offence but the weight was above 10 lbs in each county so he was looking at 2 different counties with a mandatory of 3 years each. The lawyers just kept saying that 3 years was the mandatory and the fact that he can serve them together was the best they could do. The first lawyer talked him into accepting a guilty plea deal at the first preliminary and the second said his hands were tied from that. I watched a court for the entire day and the judge pretty much agreed with every deal that was put forth from the prosecution. So now being in this so close I realize its all about how the lawyer handles it. After he is not state property )maybe sooner) I am going to be the biggest activist against min. Mandatory for marijuana and the “true to sentencing” bill Gov. Corbett applied. It seems there is no forgiveness for first time non violent offence other than the RRRI. In NY this would have been 9mos. From the gravity score,maybe even parole. I will definately recommend you to anyone I can. You seem to be one lawyer that knows the law. I wish I found you $20,000 and 3 months ago.

  32. Daniel Allen says:

    My son was authorized RRRI by the judge as part of his 1-5 yr. sentence for DUI. He has successfully completed the RRRI program, has been a model prisoner and has gotten in absolutely no trouble. 3/4th of his minimum sentence has expired, yet nobody has said anything about his release. Shouldn’t he be getting released after 3/4 of his sentence has been completed? And shouldn’t he be able to bypass the parole board? Seems they aren’t following the rules.

  33. That is the problem with any of the prison programs. They often have final say in how or why something is implemented or not, so there is no consistency. For instance, I have seen that the SIP program suggests that you do 7 months in prison before being released to a half-way house, but often the inmate sits for months before starting the 7 month portion of the sentence, which effectively lengthens the 7 month incarceration. You may want to hire a lawyer to investigate why your son has not been released, or perhaps contact the parole agent, the prison, or the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing to see if anyone can explain why this is happening. Steve

  34. Katrina Mohammad says:

    My fiance is awaiting sentencing and we are trying to determine if he will be eligible for RRRI; however we have been unsuccessful in determining if he is indeed. He pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and possession with intent to deliver of an amount all together of 171 grams; however he was indicted in the past for possession of firearms and to me I don’t believe it is considered a violent crime as it wasn’t with deadly force but I am not certain as the information I have been seeing online is not concrete. I hope you can help me or point me in a direction where I can find out, anything will help. Thanks!

  35. The possession of firearms charge makes him clearly ineligible – it does not have to be a violent crime if he was convicted of any offense under the Uniform Firearms Act. You should have a good lawyer in your jurisdiction render an opinion on whether the DA might agree to waive the disabling offense and whether DOC will honor that waiver or not.

  36. Kourtney says:

    Hello I am still trying to get a clear a clear understanding on my boyfriend’s sentence. He was sentenced to 5-10 but RRRI eligibility. I called to ask his counselor about the program. He said the judge who sentenced him has nothing to do with the final decision if he’s accepted or not. But im confused on how much time this program takes off his sentence. Maybe you could tell me how much of his sentence he has to complete with the RRRI program.

  37. The answer to this one is actually contained in the blog post above – an inmate who gets a minimum sentence of 3 years or less is supposed to be presumptively paroled at 75% of the minimum sentence (the lower of the two numbers in the sentence). An inmate sentenced to more than 3 years for the minimum component of the sentence must serve 5/6 of that time before presumptive parole.

  38. amanda says:

    hello, I don’t quite understand how the program works… If a prisoner is sentenced to a min of one year with RRRI making the new min 9 mos, and has approx. 4 mos time served at the county level will that go towards the one year min, or would the time not actually start until moved to the state prison? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

  39. The four months time-served prior to sentencing is deducted from the RRRI sentence, meaning that the inmate is eligible for presumptive parole after 5 more months under your scenario (total of 9 months in jail). If the terms of RRRI are not complied with then he is eligible for parole after completing the one year minimum (8 months after sentencing). Hope this helps. Steve

  40. I think the confusion lies with the fact that pre-sentence time does not count for the SIP program. Further, all of the RRRI programs have to be completed before release, so if someone does not have sufficient time in state prison to complete them then he won’t be released at his RRRI minimum.

  41. One final comment – I contacted the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing and learned that the programs are long enough that inmates should plan on having about a year to complete them. Inmates who enter state prison with less than a year to serve on RRRI sentences tend not to finish in time to be released at the RRRI minimum.

  42. cari says:

    Hi my fiance is currently in jail his sentence is 9 months to 3 years his sentencing judge gave him the triple ri program he has been in for almost 5 months he is in his home jail an his minimum is june 4th. He wrote me a letter saying he won’t see parole board until August an in his state case it says nothing of the triple ri program why is this an why does he have to wait till August

  43. You should have a lawyer review his sentence sheet to see what he was sentenced to there and make sure that the prison is aware of what his sentence is supposed to be.

  44. Mariah Washington says:

    My Boyfriend Was Sentenced 15/30 Months State Time With Time Served &’ Triple RI He Went In Dec.6 &’ Is Being Sentenced Today May 2nd So How Much Time Would He Do. ?

  45. 11 months 8 days if all goes well.

  46. Robin says:

    My son was sentenced with the triple R-I DEC 29 2012 1 to 4 years it’s now May 4th and he still has not see parole and is still at the classification Prison he has been classified for sometime now. He’s volunteers for what ever he could and finally gotten a tear working job. making no cense to could you please help me understand what happening

  47. There could be lots of other factors at work here – read through the earlier postings about the delays in getting into the programming, whether he spent all his time in state prison or some in the county, how long of a delay in his sentencing, and whether he has any misconducts. For more specific information pertaining to him you would have to call the prison yourself or hire us to do it. Thanks, Steve

  48. Bonnie Schmidt says:

    If someone is convicted of a sex crime and is not eligible for RRRI, does that mean there is no way to be released prior to serving their minimum sentence and meeting with the Parole Board?

  49. Practically speaking such a person is not likely to be released before his minimum date.

  50. stephanie says:

    My boyfriend just got.sentenced 1/3yrs,on a county parole violation .he is eligible For rrri and has 8 1/2 months in county.he.hasnt got shipped To.gratorsford yet but is waiting.will he.move.from there or get classified there To.get.released.also all this talk about summaries not.reading the.same as First.stated is scaring me.so he totally bypasses the.po board? And just.gets a date.

  51. He might stay at Graterford or might be moved to Camp Hill. He will bypass the parole board unless he is still incarcerated when they otherwise might parole him.

  52. Sid says:

    I recently been sentenced to 1to2 years. Up state, one month served county time and triple rrri program i go in June 3. What time will I get to half way house

  53. Unfortunately I have no clear guidance on this at this time, but I can tell you that you are not likely to be paroled early. It typically takes about a year to complete the required programs, so you may get no benefit from RRRI under your circumstances.

  54. stephanie says:

    I had spoke To you before on here but another question.today is mt boyfriends min.sent of a 1/3 but he has not.gottn moved To gratorsford yet,do you know why.that would be ? on the 13 th will be.a month since sentencing.could he.possibly get paroled from county jail on a state sent without goin upstate since its already the min today? Thank you

  55. I’m not sure what you mean by a minimum sentence of 1/3? If it’s only been a month since sentencing it is hard to believe that he will be paroled without going upstate. I imagine you are indicating that he got sentenced to 1-3 years in the state, one month ago, with 11 months credit for time-served. Thus he is now eligible for parole but has not completed any state programs. It is not clear whether he was approved for RRRI or SIP, although even if he was those programs would not help since he did not complete them. You may want to call us at 215-997-1000 with further details for a better answer.

  56. stephanie says:

    Hi i had posted before,my boyfriend jut got moved To.gratorsford last week.he has a 1 To 3 sent.with rrri.his min was june 6,but left county on the.13.im being told since his crime is non violent and the jails being over crowded that it will be soon.how.long can they.take To classify someone if their min. Is.already.expired also rhey want him.To.do victims awareness class.he was aldo.told he might.be able ro do.it from.home?? Very

    confused .i. Call the jail but they have no awnser For me.i did check with them and his sum.does say.he is rrri eligable.any help?? Thanks

  57. Alishia says:

    Hi, I just came across your website. Very interesting info. My Fiance was sentenced in Bucks County Prison on 5/8/2013 for possesion of crack cocaine with intent to sell. He took a 1yr deal with RRRI and time served (2 1/2months) at the county. No priors. When he was sent up state in 06/2013. He was quickly certified at Graterford then moved to Camphill and then moved again to his home prison. He would hear talks about him needing to serve the remaining nine months up state before he’s eliglable for parole. Which would extend his time past assumed release date, sometime this Dec. He received a letter from the PB stating his hearing is schedule in Nov 2013. I’ve been reading about the parole process, and my calculations is telling me he may not be released this yr. Is there some truth to the rumors?

  58. Alishia says:

    I failed to mention that he has no programs to be completed.

  59. Yes. While prison regulations can change at any time, right now it requires well over 6 months to complete the RRRI program, which is a prerequisite to release. Since he will have only been in the state system for 6 months at year’s end I don’t believe he will be released then. Steve

  60. That doesn’t fit with the information given out by the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing, which suggests that programs must be completed while in state prison, not the county, to be released at the RRRI minimum.

  61. Michelle says:

    I have look over all replies and the rrri program does not sound to promising my son only has10 months left and is still in the county is there any way he can just stay there he was just sentenced on oct 1st in Montgomery county he still has to go to court in Chester county for probation violation

  62. Assuming he got a state sentence he is probably best off serving his sentence in the state system as he will need to complete programs to be paroled early or on time and has no access to those programs in the county prison. You should hire a lawyer so that you are getting advice from someone who knows all of the circumstances of his case and sentence to ensure that you get sound, accurate advice.

  63. Kate says:

    My fiancé just got a 3-7 sentence. DA and judge agreed on RRRI. We were told that it’s partial jail and then partial halfway house but none of my reading states this. Can you help?

  64. Yes, RRRI sentences involve some jail time followed by some time in a halfway house.

  65. Kate says:

    Thank you. I also was just told that just because the DA and judge made him eligible that doesn’t mean DOC will? It’s the only reason he took a plea. But it was gun charges for person not to possess so if it it up to DOC won’t that make him unelligible to actually be RRRI?

  66. Yes, you should always be told that any decision in court about RRRI is still subject to the DOC approving it. For instance, even if made eligible, if there is no room in the program someone can be delayed entry into the program which can lengthen a shorter sentence of a year or so.

  67. Tiffinie says:

    My husband was sentenced to 18 months to 5 years, he has been in for a year on december 13th 2013 and he has RRRI they are saying that his RRRI date is september 2014. Is that about right? And what do you mean presumptively paroled? Can you please email me

  68. I assume he sat in county for many months before going to the state? RRRI would shave time off the 18 month minimum, but they gave you a date longer than 18 months. This would make sense if he did 6 months in the county as it generally takes roughly a year of time in the state to be able to get out on RRRI.

    Normally a state inmate has to meet his minimum and then wait to see the parole board, often months after his minimum, to get paroled. Presumptive parole means they can let him go without seeing the parole board, though that presumption can be overcome if he has a record of bad behavior at the prison.

  69. Val says:

    My husband was just sentenced to 9 to 30 years for drug chargers in centre county but was told he was ineligibly for TTTI because of a simple assault 20 years ago. Is this so or is there something that can be done? Will DOC do their own evaluation of him when he gets there? Do you know of any other programs that are on the rise?

  70. I think you are referring to RRRI. If your husband was already sentenced then there likely is little that can be done as currently there is no time limit on disqualifying offenses.

  71. Ana says:

    Hi, my son was sentenced 2-4 elegible at 18 months RRRI. He spent in the county prison 13 months which he got credited for. He has to do some classes in prison. He was sentenced for drugs, he has his High School Diploma. Do you know what classes and how long are they ao he can get out ?. He still in the county and he is saying he is going to Camp Hill then to his home jail. Is there anyway that Camp Hill is his home jail. I mean if he has to wait until he gets classified to get to his home jail to start the classes, won’t he spend more than his remainder of his sentence ?. If his elegible for the RRRI at 18 he like 5 more months but I read he will have to do at least a year ?.

  72. Ana says:

    Steven I just read that he will pass classification and go straight to start the classes to his based correctional institution, which I am thinking means, home jail. I ask again, could it be that Camp Hill could be his home jail since he doesn’t have too much time to do ? or he will end up doing a year to finish the classes. Thanks

  73. My guess is that RRRI will do him very little if any good on this sentence as he will not be eligible for the RRRI presumptive minimum until after he would normally be paroled anyhow because he will not be able to finish the classes that are a prerequisite for presumptive parole in the five months he has left until his RRRI minimum.

  74. Camp Hill could be his home institution (it serves as a both a classification center and a home institution) but even if that is designated his home institution it will likely take a year to get into and finish the classes. He will be eligible for normal parole a month before that.

  75. Amy says:

    My friend was given 14m-5yrs and was told she is RRRI eligible meaning her min is 10.5 months. She was sentenced beginning of January and is still sitting in county at this point, and doesn’t know when she will be moved to state or if she even will be. From what I have read if she doesn’t move to state in the next week she won’t get out at the 10.5 month mark because she won’t have completed the classes required. Is that correct? Or am I miss understanding what I have been reading?

  76. Yes, she needs to get to state prison as soon as possible or she will not be likely to be released at her RRRI minimum since she won’t have enough time to complete the state prison programs that are a prerequisite to being paroled at the RRRI minimum.

  77. Ana says:

    Thanks for your respose. But will he be classified or go straight to a home prison ?. And if he is elegible for parole a month before that, meaning at 11 months, right ?. Then, he has to see the parole board and still have to wait for the process, with green papers etc. and will he have to go to a halfways house ? Thanks.

  78. He will be classified first, although the prison where he is classified could end up being his home prison. If he is not paroled via the RRRI program then he would have to see the board. If he completes the programs before he sees the board then he should be presumptively paroled (won’t have to see the board). For all of you reading, if anything changes please let us know. This system is constantly changes and it would help if those who have loved ones in the program share their experiences here so that others will know what to expect. Particularly, how long did it take to complete the programs once the person got to the classification or home SCI?

  79. Ana says:

    Steve, one more thing. My son stil in the county, in the beginning of the next month he will have 14 months already in. So if he is not going to be released until he do at least a year, and in 8 months would be his minimum parole time. Isn’t it better to take his parole minimum ?. Does it work like that, because if at 14 another year is added them the RRRI is not doing him any good to get realease earlier. Am I making any sense ?

  80. Ana says:

    Another last thing ;). Why it says that if the judge RRRI, the person would “get past classification and go to your base state correctional institution, etc” and then I read that is not true ¿?

  81. I don’t think RRRI will block him from the normal parole process. If he does not get paroled at his RRRI minimum then I think they will consider him for normal parole at the time they normally would. If he gets RRRI parole before that then it becomes moot.

  82. If the Judge ordered that he should bypass classification then maybe that will happen. I’m not sure what the state prisons will do with that directive.

  83. Ana says:

    Steve, my bad, I misinterpreted “you get past classifications and go to your base state corectional institution” as if it meant to bypass it. . So much for knowing two languages. lol !
    I will share what happens with the RRRI, how long it took, how long to release, etc. I love your site, you are a lot of help and the least I can do is share. Thanks again.

  84. Harvey says:

    Hello. My friend was sentenced to 18-60 months for a parole violation on April 1 2013. In 2008 he plead guilty to 55 felony counts of defrauding State Medicaid. He received 5 years probation and was compelled to make full restitution. He missed 27 out of a possible 60 payments. He filled RRRI on 1/27/2014. Is this a waste of time, as at no time was RRRI included in any of his legal proceedings? Thanks

  85. Yes, I think you can only get RRRI if the sentencing judge orders it at the time of sentencing. However, if the attorney should have requested RRRI and did not it may be an illegal sentence for which he could get relief.

  86. Stefani pililis says:

    Question: friend of mine violated parole with a drug charge. In his sentence order it says 3-6 years and triple Ri eligible. He did 5 months in county and was just transferred to camp hill. When will he know if they are indeed putting him in the triple RI program? Also his original county on his charge years ago (reason he was on parole) was york but now his new charge is adams county but on the camp hill record it has his offending county listed as york, why? Does that mean they are going to make him finish out his old sentence (3-6 and was released after 3) plus his new sentence??? Would that be in his sentencing order cuz I read it and it said nothing about making up his parole violation time… So from what I read if he completes his program by 27 months (well 22 months now) then he wouldn’t have to see the parole board???

  87. He is eligible for RRRI parole and just needs to complete the various programs that are required for that. He should ask his counselor at the prison specifically what programs he needs or hire a lawyer to inquire of the PA sentencing commission or SCI counsel. I have no idea why the offending county designation would have changed. I would have to see his sentence sheet to answer your question about his old sentence, but it sounds like you may have already answered that yourself. If he completes all RRRI requirements then he will not need to see the parole board. Finally, with regard to the second question you submitted, no one deleted your question – it just take a few hours to go live on our website. Best of luck. Steve

  88. Stefani pililis says:

    Thank you very much for responding. When you say I answered my own question…what’s the answer??? That if it doesn’t say anything about serving his lost time in the sentencing order then that’s not what’s occurring. I can email you his sentencing order because I do have it. I can pay whatever fee for you to read it even though it’s pretty basic. It states that he has 3-6 and his two charges are concurrent and then states he is triple RI eligible

  89. Stefani pililis says:

    I’m thinking that if he had to do time on the parole violation as in complete his last sentence back in 2008 it would have said on the sentencing order the remainder of the sentence which would be 3 years then plus the 3-6 and say they were concurrent or consecutive. It didn’t mention that so am I right to assume it’s just a solid 3-6 (with the triple RI as well added)

  90. Donna Ragni says:

    My husbands RRI date has come and gone February 27, 2014 was supppose to be his release date for RRRI. HE has not recieved any writre up or has not had any problems since being incarserated. Dont they have to let him out on his RRRI date ??

  91. How long has he been in state prison? Did he complete all of his programs?

  92. christina fuller says:

    Is there any success stories about the RRRI program. My husband got RRRI in September. He only spent 11 days in the county then spent two weeks at Western then off to Camp Hill where he was there maybe 6 weeks tops. Once he got to his home jail he then was put right into his TC program. He saw the parole board about two weeks ago. It seems like they are really trying to get him out at his RRRI min in June but afraid to get my hopes up. Have you heard of them moving this fast and also has anyone got out at their RRRI min that you know of?????

  93. Some people have gotten out at their minimum and others have not. It is toughest with the shorter sentences, as you will see if you read through all the comments here. No one can tell you for sure in advance, at least not at this point.

  94. christina fuller says:

    Yes I read through the other comments and it really makes my head hurt. But it would have to be a good sign that he is almost done with the tc program and his min is just around the corner I would think. Only time will tell. Thanks for your comment!!!!

  95. fawn says:

    I was just sentenced in York pa for 21-42 months state time and the judge wrote that I was rrri eligible in 15 months and 22 days… although my crime was theft and I do have psychological issues I was diagnosed with bi-polar and borderline personality disorder … I do not have a drug or alcohol problem but my addiction was the need to have money so I can feel in control… I have read a lot of misleading things about the rrri program and don’t want to mislead my children on the notion that I will be home in 15 months … can you tell me how this will really work… I have to report to the YCP on 4/2

  96. If you don’t have any time in prison yet then I think you have plenty of time to complete the necessary programs before your RRRI minimum. Just make sure you have good conduct, promptly complete all necessary programs, and get to SCI as quickly as possible. Best of luck. Steve

  97. Ann says:

    My nephew was charged with 2 counts of burglary. He has had pled guilty to burglary twice before (once in NJ and once in PA, both businesses). This time the charges were for home burglaries, no person present. From what I have read, he would be eligible for RRRI. The public defender says burglary is “on the list of ineligible offenses” for the RRRI program. This is a direct contradiction to the Q&A section of the department of corrections website which states {Q. Why is burglary RRRI eligible if burglary is a crime of violence as defined in 9714 of the Sentencing Code and by case law in death penalty litigation? (CW vs. Rios and CW vs. Pruitt)
    A. That’s a good question. I think the burglary itself is an eligible offense, although burglary with a house person present is a crime of violence under “Three Strikes” so just that one category of burglary is considered a crime of violence. The Victims Bill of Rights under personal injury crime does not include burglary.} I believe the public defender and the Judge who sentenced him are wrong. In your opinion, would he be eligible for the RRRI program? Thank you.

  98. If he already has counsel then I am not in a position to second-guess what he is telling you, although I would suggest confronting him with your question in writing and seeing if perhaps the response changes. Best of luck. Steve

  99. Ann says:

    I did put in writing. I faxed the above to the public defender’s office and asked them to file the motion for reconsideration, as my nephew asked them to do. They refused. So where do I turn if the sentence was incorrect (by stating his is not RRRI eligible) and the person appointed by the court is unwilling to help it be corrected? Thank you.

  100. I can think of several choices. Start by calling the Chief Public Defender and asking for help. You only have ten days from sentencing to ask for reconsideration, so don’t delay. Second, if that doesn’t work, hire a private attorney to try to fix any mistake. Third, if you can’t afford a private attorney, have your nephew file an appeal or PCRA, depending on the issues he has and the time that has passed, alleging that it is a matter of record that he was eligible for RRRI but was not given it, and requesting appointment of new counsel. New counsel should be able to verify whether he was entitled to RRRI or not.

  101. Ann says:

    Thank you. You have been very helpful. It’s a shame you aren’t closer to my nephew. I would have perhaps hired you (if you thought you could get the sentence reduced).

  102. Jack says:

    my fiance is in sci cambridge springs as cpv. her months street time was revoked and she is serving out her time. she recieved the new charges of dui/reap 2-24 months. her parole date for revocation is 11-7-2014. doc is saying that she has to roll to new number before entering the tc program or seeing parole bout new charges. how can that be since program is 4 months and her min is 2 months.also since her sentence is only 2 months when do you believe she will see parole for new charges, shouldnt it be 3-4 months prior to her min?

  103. Cindy says:

    My niece broke her probation and the judge revoked her d&a rip.He sentenced her to 2 1/2-5 yrs credit for time served. RRRI eligible at 22 1/2 months. Can she get out sooner under boot camp? Or does she need to do 22 1/2 months first before becoming eligible? I think she has almost a year for time served. Does that make a difference?

  104. She is only eligible for Boot Camp if the Judge made her eligible for Boot Camp on the sentence sheet. I think she will have to do another 10 1/2 months if she had a year in, so she should be sure she is enrolled in all programs necessary for RRRI immediately or that will hold up her release.

  105. Cindy says:

    Her original sentence was in 2008 and she has been in and out of county jail a couple of times. Does that time count too? Or is her total time since 2008 together on her docket sheet?
    I want to thank you very much for you answering my questions!

  106. Her original sentence and previous violation sentences don’t matter except for the fact that her current maximum exposure is reduced by the time she has already spent in jail (so if she got 2 1/2-5 and has already spent a total of 4 years in jail the longest possible sentence is 1 year of back time – this analysis changes if there are any probationary sentences, for which she can get the maximum sentence that applies to the charge, which can be well in excess of the period of time of probation).

  107. I don’t handle many state parole cases since there generally is not much an attorney can do in those, so I can’t answer that part of your question. However, it is not uncommon for a state inmate to be otherwise eligible for release, but still not get released, because he or she has not been in long enough to complete a program that is a prerequisite for release.

  108. Tiffany A. Carter says:

    My Husband was sentenced to 3.5–10yrs RRRI eligible at 35 months. How much time will he actually have to do before being paroled?

  109. Assuming he completes all his required programs he should be paroled at 35 months without having to see the parole board.

  110. Paula Harris says:

    My husband was sentenced to 18 to 36 months for possession with intent and communication he was sentenced September 9 and is still in the county he is also RRR I eligible. Could you tell me how much time he would have to complete before being released I have no idea how much of his minimum does he do? How many months? So confused…

  111. The Judge is supposed to include the calculation in the sentencing Order so your attorney should be able to tell you the exact amount of time that was calculated in the Order. Assuming that he just went to prison in September, and does not have previous time served on this case, I would expect that he will be transferred to an SCI soon and get out at his RRRI minimum date. Just tell him to make sure he completes all of the programs required to be paroled on RRRI. There is a waitlist at many institutions.

  112. Paula Harris says:

    I was told if you get a county sentence you only do half of your minimum considering all goes well can you tell me how much of your minimum you do when its a state sentence ???

  113. The timing of parole from county sentences varies from county to county. In the state system it varies depending upon the sentence imposed. Normally an inmate cannot be released until serving the entire minimum, although he might be released to a halfway house before that time (because that is not considered a release to parole). If someone is made eligible for RRRI then that person can be released without seeing the parole board at the specific time calculated by the Judge and entered on the sentencing Order, assuming all necessary programs have been completed and prison misconduct does not prevent it.

  114. Tiffany says:

    My boyfriend was sentanced two days ago. He would have gotten 21- (48 i think) they said he was rrri eligible and since he is his minimum sentance would be 15 3/4 months..is that the earliest he can get out? Or could he come home sooner?

  115. That should be the earliest he can come home.

  116. Tiffany says:

    hes still at the county jail , when i call the jail it says his projected release date is july 15, 2016. shouldnt it be january 16,2016?

  117. Tiffany says:

    And theres no way he can petition the judge for early parole or anyting like that? His lawyer didnt explain anything to me. I have no idea what rrri is.

  118. The projected release date they quoted is for the minimum without RRRI. Call the counselor and explain the situation but if that doesn’t work you need to get a lawyer involved. Call us – we just had this situation and got it fixed. Steve Fairlie

  119. Read the article that started all these posts and then you will have a better idea of what RRRI is. RRRI is early parole – there is not another that you can apply for, unless perhaps he is boot camp eligible – then you can ask his counselor to help him apply for that through the prison even if the Judge did not order it.

  120. Susan Keenan says:

    Good Afternoon~ I was wondering if you could help me understand a few things. My nephew was sentenced for 2-4 years with boot camp eligible and also RRRI program if he gets in to boot camp and can not complete it. He was ordered to serve 6 months in state prison before he can go to boot camp. They have been told at camp hill that they are extremely backed up and the waiting list for boot camp is a minimum of 9 months. Is there anything that can be done, I know that the system is not fair, but it does not seem right that someone is sentenced to something but will be in there twice as long because it is overcrowded. Is there anything that can be done or it is what it is? This is all so confusing it just does not seem right that someone has no choice but to sit there for over a year waiting for boot camp when they should have only been waiting for a few months. Do you know anything about Quehanna Boot camp? Who determines who is on the list to go? Is there anything that can be done? I appreciate your insight!!!

  121. Sometimes it makes sense to have a lawyer review everything and look for the potential problems. For instance, if he plans to pursue RRRI then he must make sure he gets into the proper programs and completes them as soon as he possibly can. However, in many cases there is nothing more that can be done. I suggest that you contact your local legislators and register your concern.

  122. Christie Sheffield says:

    My son was just sentenced to 18 months-10 years for 2 felony crimes and he is only 20. Could you answer a few things for me since I am new to this. He was transferred to SCI Camp Hill 2 weeks ago. How long does it take for them to determine if this will be his home jail? I thought when the judge sentenced him to a state prison that was automatically SCI Camp Hill? Also what does RRRI ineligible mean? I tried to read some other comments about it and still don’t really understand. Im just so confused about all of this. The judge also said something about when he gets to the state prison to get an attorney to try and get his time reduced, whys that? Thanks for taking the time to read this.

  123. It will probably take a few months for them to determine which will be his home jail – SCI Camp Hill is a classification center so the fact that he was sent there means nothing at this point – they could ship him out to any other institution from there. The Judge specifically found that he is not eligible for RRRI, which is a program that can expedite parole and save a substantial amount of incarceration. You should have an attorney review that determination as it would be an illegal sentence if he was in fact eligible for RRRI. This is not a discretionary call for the Judge. I have no idea why the Judge told you to have an attorney try to get a reduced sentence, but I can’t imagine a Judge would say that without a reason. Have someone good look into the case soon as you only have 30 days from the date of sentencing to appeal.

  124. Stefani pililis says:

    I think Mr. Fairlie is referring to me when he says they just had a situation where there was miscommunication on the Triple RI and I want to let you all know that he is a great lawyer and wonderful at what he does. I found him through this site, hired him and will hire him again. He did not stop until he got exactly what I asked for and needed!!! I can’t say enough good things about him.

  125. Tyasia says:

    Hello , I Was Wondering When My Boyfriend Go See Parole His Minimum Is 1 Year And Max is 2Years And This upcoming July He Will Hit His 1 year And Also The Judge Gave Him The RRRI Any idea When He Will Go See Parole And When He Gets Out??

  126. Read through the other comments here – as long as he completes his programs on time he won’t have to see the parole board at all. The problem is that many times the SCI doesn’t or can’t have him start the required programs in time to complete them by his RRRI minimum. If that happens then he can see the parole board in the normal course before being released on RRRI.

  127. Sandra Moyer says:

    My son was sentenced to 2-4yrs for identity theft. He went to prison on July 19, 2013. He was granted RRRI. His case was before the parole board in Sept 2104 and he was denied. It went to the parole board again in March 2015 and denied. It will not be reviewed again until Sept 2015, which will be 2 months after he has already served his minimum of 2 years. Why is he not getting his reduced sentence that the RRRI is supposed to give him?

  128. Read all of the information below and you will see that the most likely answer is that your son has not yet completed all of the requirements to be eligible for RRRI release (he should ask his counselor what remains to be completed or hire us to inquire) or has misconducts, detainers, or some other impediment to parole.

  129. Sandra Moyer says:

    Thanks so much for your quick response. He DID NOT meet the requirements the first time he was reviewed. There was confusion as to whether he needed to take a class to complete the requirements, so he took it just to make sure. We feel he should have gotten RRRI in March of this year.

  130. Sandra hiller says:

    I don’t know if anyone is still answering questions on here but my husband was given a minimum of 18 months but if he’s rrri eligible then the minimum is 13 and a half months and he has two months credit. The judge also recommended going to boot camp but we’re not sure which one is going to get him home sooner because of overcrowding and the parole board and also the wait if he decided to go to boot camp. Can anyone please help?

  131. Did the Judge specify that he is RRRI eligible on his sentence sheet? He should talk with his counselor at his facility about the current wait to get into the necessary programs and he can consider hiring a lawyer to help him navigate these decisions.

  132. Sandra hiller says:

    I believe the judge did say he was eligible and his lawyer doesn’t seem to know the best route all he knows is he’ll get the process going asap and my husband was told he would have to wait until he got to camp hill to really know anything.

  133. If you already have a lawyer then you should just demand answers (the best available) from that lawyer. We can’t answer questions pertaining to other lawyers’ clients.

  134. Tamie Yard says:

    My bf took a plea for 15-30 months for drug charges. No prior convictions or any violent crimes. He has been in County since June 9 2015 and just now getting sentenced on the 15th of Dec. Will he for sure get sent to state if so, if the judge offers the RRRI program is it even worth it since his min is almost half way done? Also one more question is it possible that they will just keep him in County to finish out his min than parole out. Mind you he has been working in the kitchen and has had no disciplinary actions. Thank you in advance.

  135. He should be sent to state prison unless the Judge specifically says that the 15-30 months is to be served in the county prison. RRRI could still help him make sure that he is paroled upon his eligibility for the program, rather than maxing out. He should also ask whether he is eligible for bootcamp.

  136. MARGARET OCASIO says:

    MY FIANCE WAS SENTENCED IN SEPT 2012 ON DRUG CHARGES HE WAS SENTENCED TO 5 TO 10 YEARS IN A STATE PRISON SCI PINE GROVE IN INDIANA PA HIS PAROLE DATE WAS SEPT 2017. HE WAS SENTENCED OUT OF SCRANTON PA. HE WAS NOT ISSUED TRIPLE RI THEN HE APPEALED IT AND HIS ATTORNEY GOT HIM THE TRIPLE RI AND HE WAS ISSUED A NEW STATUS SHEET IN JUNE 2015 HIS NEW PAROLE DATE WAS 11/20/2016.
    6 DAYS AGO HE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM HIS SENTENCING JUDGE THAT THEY ARE REVOKING HIS TRIPLE RI BECAUSE HE HAD AN ASSAULT CHARGE FROM 14 YEARS IN 2002. BUT HE HASN’T RECEIVED A NEW STATUS SHEET YET I WANT TO KNOW HOW TO HELP HIM KEEP HIS TRIPLE RI HE HAS ALREADY COMPLETED ALL MANDATORY PROGRAMS

  137. The general rule is that a Judge may not modify a sentence more than 30 days after imposing it as he loses jurisdiction. I would have to research to see if there is an exception that would permit it under these circumstances but it is definitely worth looking into. Further, you have a good argument that he justifiably relied upon that sentence in completing his requirements so the court should not be allowed to change it after the fact.

  138. Pamela Sapienza says:

    My son was sentenced to 6 1/2 to 15 years in prison. He is serving his time at SCI Fayette. He saw parole in December, 2015, as his minimum is April 18, 2016. When he entered the room, the man (from the parole board) told him he had a presumptive minimum of RRRI eligibility. My son was too nervous to ask what this meant, and didn’t realize he had RRRI status. We are very confused about this whole situation. My son asked his prison counselor what it meant, and she explained the definition…but she didn’t explain how this affects him at this point. He wrote a letter to the new judge because the original judge retired. Any insight you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

  139. You should consider hiring a lawyer to review your son’s paperwork and give you more information. It sounds like he is already eligible for RRRI but if he didn’t know that he might not havecompleted the necessary programs to obtain his early parole. You should get to the bottom of this as soon as you can.

  140. Pamela Sapienza says:

    Thank you for your comment. My son successfully completed all of the programs that he was required to take. He has written a letter to the judge, and maybe that will help. His parole agent visited my home last night. I will pass your comment on to my son, and see what he wants to do. Thanks again.

  141. I think under those circumstances you probably won’t need a lawyer, although the only way to be sure and avoid surprises would be to meet with someone with all the details of his case.

  142. Heather P says:

    My brother was sentenced to 15-30 months for 3 consecutive DUI’s and has never been a violent offender. He went to county for 1 month, then to SCI Pittsburgh for about 16 days and now he has been at Camp Hill for a month. He was not granted RRRI at his sentencing and was not offered this. What can he do to apply for this? Does he need to talk to his counselor ? With this sentence, if he was granted RRRI, when would he be eligible for Parole? Thank you for your time!

  143. We are starting to find that we are answering the same question numerous times, so this is a reminder to readers to please read through the posts before asking us to answer questions. We are happy to help where we can, but our time is valuable and we don’t want to fill this blog post with repetitive material. The key to your question here is that only the Judge can make someone eligible for RRRI, so if you weren’t made eligible and you think you should have been, you need to go back to the Judge rather than asking a counselor. It is definitely best to get a lawyer to help you when going back to the Judge. Best of luck!

  144. Betsy P says:

    My son was sentenced today to 1-3 years. Eligible for RRRI. He has served 5 months at county. What I’ve read is that 4 months is not enough time to complete the requirements. Can he go before the parole board at his one year minimum while in this program without completing it? He believes he has to complete the program once he has started it, even if it means extending his minimum sentence.

  145. The program requirements for RRRI are individualized and determined upon commitment to the DOC as part of the classification and evaluation process. Thus, without knowing the specific program requirements it is difficult to know how quickly the case will proceed. The Parole Board is authorized to parole an inmate prior to completion of programming, requiring completion of the programming as part of the parole conditions. However, part of the argument for enactment of RRRI is that completion of the programming reduces recidivism, so the Board likes to see that done. On average, it seems that the inmates with short minimums serve more than the RRRI minimum but less than the actual minimum sentence. Your son is probably correct that once a program has been started he is unlikely to be paroled until he has completed it. An alternative is to ask to serve the sentence in county prison (in those counties which have adequate capacity). The inmate can then be made eligible for county reentry and paroled by the Court rather than by the Board. Ultimately, it really is case-dependent so hard to give any absolute rules. Best of luck. Steve

  146. Leon wells says:

    My son have been offered a 1year and a half to 5 years. He has already done 4 months in the county jail. His lawyer said he’s rrri eligible. Should he take it or just do the time in the county

  147. There is no substitute for the local lawyer’s advice in this situation. Many more questions need to be asked, such as what would the county sentence be? Ask the local lawyer for clarification.

  148. Leon wells says:

    He lives in Lancaster county pa. He has a Public defender. I just want a second opinion

  149. Nancy says:

    My boyfriend received rrri with a regular minimum sentence of one year. It was determined that he needs to take a six months program because of a dual diagnose. He has already been in for 5 months which puts him at his full minimum with no hope of starting the program soon as no one seems to know when he will get moved to the TC unit. Is there a way to find out when he will start or if he has to go through since the whole point was supposed to be to get him out early? Any advice is appreciated.

  150. That is very case-specific so you should try calling DOC or hire a lawyer to try to get you answers. Either way he should do the programs since there is no guarantee of parole at his minimum without RRRI.

  151. Nancy says:

    Thank you for responding. You are the first person who has done so throughout this ordeal. What kinds of questions can I ask the DOC to get answers. Rumor is the next 6 months TC will not be starting until August in Pittsburgh but I am trying to not go by rumors. If that is the case though he will be over his true minimum by 5 months.
    Thank you again for your time.

  152. I’ll reply privately.

  153. Megan says:

    OK so my fiancee was sentenced and he said they gave him RRRI and good time how does that work? Can he have both? They gave him 17 months so how much time should he expect to do? I’ve been reading all of this and understand what he had to do, but I’m not understanding the parole part of it. Will he still have to see the parole board? Or will he just be released?

  154. In my experience good time is a county jail program and RRRI is a state prison program. Someone eligible for RRRI but serving the sentence in a county jail can’t complete the state prison programs that are a prerequisite for RRRI so can’t be paroled until seeing the parole board, whereas if the same person is serving his sentence in state prison and completes the programs he would be paroled without seeing the board. So while you can be eligible for both good time and RRRI on the same sentence I don’t think you can take advantage of both at the same time.

  155. Marie says:

    Hello, my daughter’s father was sentenced to 3 to 10 years with a minimum of 22.5 months. He is being charged according to his status sheet for prescription drugs which was his own. Here’s what happened, the police came to my house one morning for an arrest warrant for his cousin that has never lived with us. He lives in South Carolina which they were told this once before, we even called him so they could speak with him on the phone. They came back in about a year, burst in my house and begin searching my house after having me, my daughter, and my mother sit down stairs half dressed. They found Marijuana, and prescription drugs, and 2 guns one of which was not registered. The one that was registered was my father’s gun, that my mother had brought with her when she moved with me after my father had passed. The prescription drugs was his own, he was in a motorcycle accident years ago. The medications that were prescribed he could not tolerate, he kept vomiting them up so they kept prescribing him medication, until they found something that he could tolerate. He had also fallen off of his truck, he is a truck driver for over 30 yrs and was prescribed several medications because he had to get surgery on his rotary cuff. He even had to go court for that, because his job did not want to give him workmen’s compensation. When he was sentenced his lawyer made him think that he was agreeing to the marijuana, but it was his actual prescription drugs that he was charged with. The cops had torn his name off of the bottles. His judge was Chris Wogan and his lawyer stated just take the plea deal or he will give you an even longer sentence. Nobody will take his case after finding that Lou Savino was his lawyer. I don’t understand we paid him lots of money, and now Lou wants nothing to do with him. He put in pcra, last year and has not been brought to court yet. They keep giving him dates but they will not bring him in. He just received something pertaining to his triple RI, but after reading some of your answers to these comments he will not be eligible for that because of the guns. What can I do at this point? if anything. He has been working, and also taking computer classes to keep busy. He stay in the law library every chance he gets.

  156. Some portions of this story don’t make sense so I would suggest that you have a lawyer at least review the pending PCRA petition and better, if you can afford it, review the entire file to see what remedies may be available at this point in time. It won’t do you any good for me to guess at a solution from the limited information you have provided. Best of luck!

  157. Megan Tilley says:

    So i am totally clueless to all of this court system stuff and need some help understand when my husband has a chance for his RRRI as he was found eligible at the time of his sentence.he got
    Min of 14.00 Months
    Max of 30.00 Months
    for two charges he got the same thing and the time was to be ran consecutive NOT concurrent … and then once he was in county awaiting transport to state he got a letter stating that he was Re-Entry eligible at 2/3 PRIOR to serving his minimum sentence. can you help guide me as to like an about time frame on all this?

  158. You really need more details to answer a question like this and his lawyer, who handled the case, should be able to give you best answer. It helps to have the sentence sheet and know if he got 2 14-30 month sentences or that was the total, when he got to state prison, what programs he has completed, etc. I suggest you call his lawyer and ask.

  159. megan tilley says:

    It was 2 sentences of 14-30 months to serve Consecutive….. the public defender hasn’t been much help on this at all. He just got to state today and will be able to start his programs once they have everything set up for him. This is the first one….
    1 / Conspiracy – Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession
    With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver
    Guilty Plea F 18 § 903
    Leete, John B. 05/18/2016 7 Days
    Min of 14.00 Months
    Max of 30.00 Months
    This is his second…..
    Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to
    Manufacture or Deliver
    Guilty Plea F 35 § 780-113 §§ A30
    Leete, John B. 05/18/2016
    Min of 14.00 Months
    Max of 30.00 Months

  160. The answer to this is right on my website: http://fairlielaw.net/rrri-or-how-to-avoid-the-parole-board-recidivism-risk-reduction-incentive/ . Just double the minimum (28 motnhs), take 3/4 of that (21 months), and if he completes all required programs prior to that date with no misconduct then he should be presumptively released then.

  161. Erica says:

    I am wondering if they will send me my boyfriends sentencing sheet. Or how do I get a copy? Thanks in advance

  162. Anyone may obtain the sentencing sheet by requesting it from the Clerk of Courts.

  163. Rose says:

    What are the chances of a Judge changing a sentence if you file a PCRA ? And how can the DA use your whole life history to score your sentence but can only go back 10 years for a DUI case?

  164. There is no universal percentage chance for succeeding on PCRA. It depends on the facts of each individual case. The law in Pennsylvania is clear that the full life history criminal record is relevant at sentencing (unless expunged or did not result in conviction). The limitation in DUI cases is different. DUI carries mandatory minimum sentences that increase for any prior offense in the prior ten years. Priors beyond ten years don’t count for mandatory minimum purposes but still do count as prior record and can be considered by the Judge just as in any other case.

  165. staci says:

    i have a question when your on a triple r i will it state in your paper work what classes you have to take cause rite know my brother is in prison and in his paperwork it states that he is elgilble for tripple r i but it does not state about any classes he has to take and he has been in prison since june and they have not said about any classes but he is taking a recovery and doing bible study but i was told his parole board meeting comes up in december to january and he suppose to get out in may so im just trying to find out if he is to take classes

  166. Your case illustrates why it often makes sense to hire a lawyer to sort out the RRRI quagmire. Is the inmate actually eligible? Has he done all that he can do to make sure he is paroled at his minimum? So many inmates latch on to that RRRI parole date and then are disappointed when they are not released. In your case I’m guessing that you looked to the sentencing sheet to make sure that he was eligible for RRRI. You then got confused when there was no mention of the required programming there. Here’s a primer, fresh off a recent conversation I had with a DOC lawyer and the Director of the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing:
    1. Inmates get a correctional plan based on assessments conducted during classification at SCI Camp Hill. That program will include DOC’s suggested programming.
    2. The problem is in the bureaucratic red tape. DOC does their best to anticipate the required programming, but the Board of Parole & Probation determines what programming is required to be compliant with RRRI and accomplish the early presumptive parole. If DOC guesses wrong then the inmate finds out later that he needs to complete another program before he can be paroled. This is most common for inmates with domestic violence cases or prior sex offenses.
    3. Once an inmate completes all of his required programming he will be certified “compliant.” Although I have previously been told that inmates who complete their programming by the RRRI minimum date will be paroled without needing to see the parole board, that was not always happening and many inmates needed to see a hearing examiner before they could be paroled.
    4. There is a new policy that all eligible certified inmates will be presumptively paroled at the RRRI minimum, though I think only time will tell how well this will work.
    5. Currently the average time served by a RRRI eligible inmate is 114% of his RRRI minimum. As a result, I strongly suggest that anyone serving a RRRI sentence hire a competent attorney familiar with this work to try to figure out what he can do to have the best odds of parole at his minimum. Currently we provide this service for a flat fee of $600.

  167. kim says:

    I’m trying to find out if it is possible for the doc to NOT release a rrri inmate on their scheduled release date. My boyfriend was rrri sentenced (he was sentenced to 2-4 years with his rrri minimum of 18 months) and saw parole in june. His rrri minimum was October 5th. When he got his green sheet back they denied saying he showed no remorse for his crimes & told him he would have to do his minimum of 2 years. All of his programs were completed…no write ups…he did everything he was supposed to. How can we fight this?? He is supposed to go back in front of parole in December but we now have no idea of a release date. I don’t know what to do or who to call at this point!

  168. You should hire a lawyer (us) to find out the specifics of his case and whether anything can be done. He should have been presumptively paroled at his RRRI minimum but that is not always happening.

  169. Mary says:

    My husband was sentenced to 3-6 years, he just left camp hill and was transferred. We got a new lawyer after sentencing because ours totally screwed us! She filed a motion to modify his sentence, the DA denied it but the judge granted, and a court order was sent to camp hill. He then went on to get his EKG’s, physical, etc and was cleared. Then i spoke to his counselor and he said he would be “headed in that direction” well got transferred but it was not to quehanna. So now im being told because he has to register on Megans Law (from an incident that occured 24 years ago, he was 12 and is now 36) that is not what he is currently incarcerated for, he is automatically unable to go??
    Is this true? If so, why did they do all the testing, etc?? When the judge waived his eligibility, wouldn’t it have waived that as well??? Im so confused, PLEASE HELP!

  170. This is why it pays to make sure you understand the laws and regulations before acting. Certain prior offenses cannot be waived by the Court. I don’t know what information was available at the time, but I agree that it probably should have been picked up by someone at the time of sentencing.

  171. Lisa says:

    Hello & thank you ahead of time for easing so many family members here.
    My husband was just sentenced 9months to 36months (non-violent) no priors. Previous to sentence date he has 7 &1/2 months in county, so would have about 42 days now till minimum. They said he would be moved to State. His lawyer said he could do RRRI but that would make no sense if his minimum is up by the time he is moved to State Prison. He has not had any misconduct in county. So my question is what happens in a case like this? TY

  172. Unfortunately RRRI probably won’t help him. He can’t get out via RRRI until he completes all of the necessary programs in state prison, which could easily take close to a year or more. This is very confusing as many lawyers will suggest that the inmate will released at the RRRI minimum even though that isn’t always the case.

  173. Monique says:

    My boyfriend just got sentenced to a 4-8, the judge requested time served which was a year & a triple RI , when will he com home ?

  174. Because the minimum sentence is more than three years your boyfriend is likely to be paroled after completing 5/6 of his minimum sentence, which is four years. This is also true because he does not have a sentence of less than one year, which traditionally has not been effectively shortened by RRRI. He should have enough time to complete the necessary programs before his RRRI parole date. This answer could be changed by his prior record if he has ever been convicted of an ineligible offense or his subsequent conduct if he does not behave and take the appropriate programs while incarcerated in the state system. I wish you the best of luck.

  175. Stephanie Heckman says:

    My son has his sentencing on 3/22/18 his plea is 2 1/2 to 5 yrs with RRRI so far he has done 20 months in county. My question is on a state sentence is there a required time spent in the state before you are eligible for the RRRI because according to the math he should be released at 22mths which would make it in May if that’s how it works. Could you please help me with these questions?

  176. There is not a required period of time that must be spent in the state, but as I’ve previously answered in the questions pertaining to this blog article, you must complete programs that are only offered in state prison, so effectively that can prolong the period of time spent in state prison.

  177. Nicole says:

    My Fiance was just sentenced to 24 months SIP on March 29th for a manufacture/delivery case from 2014. When the investigation was opened he was on parole and even though he was not arrested until after the “completion”of his parole they still said he violated his parole. I have called the parole board and they said they issued the board action on January 25th to reparole him upon acceptance into the SIP program. On March 29th the judge imposed his sentence of 24 months SIP. It is now June 13 and he is still sitting at Camp Hill. The DOC points the finger at the parole board saying they are waiting for “his green sheet” & the parole board points the finger back at the DOC saying they gave the board action back in January. But I have also gotten the answer that the parole board needs his acceptance letter into SIP. Is there anything I can do to help? It clearly seems like there is a flaw in this system and a 24 month SIP sentence for a 18-36 minimum charge is going to turn into longer or just about the same as his original sentence. He has been at Camp Hill since October and still has not started to serve anytime of his SIP sentence.
    Advice or help is appreciated.

  178. I suggest that you keep calling until you can get to the bottom of it with an answer that makes sense, but much better would be to hire a qualified lawyer to look into it and try to resolve it.

  179. Judy Spera says:

    My son was sentences to 2-4yr. The DA waived boot camp eligibility. The judge recommended boot camp. He has been moved to camp hill from montgomery county. We have not been able to speek to him but he has sent us letters saying that his paperwork doesn’t say anything about being boot camp eligible. Could there have been a mistake made somewhere along the way. My attorney hasn’t been much help. He just keeps asking for more money if I want any answers. You seem to be so helpful to so many people. I wish you could help me. Please check my name out carefully. You might recognize it. Thank you in advance.

  180. Have your lawyer review the sentence sheet to confirm or refute what your son told you. If he won’t do it then find a lawyer who will. Or you could ask your son to speak with his counselor and try to get a definitive answer, although I find they aren’t always reliable.

  181. Lynne S says:

    My daughter received 11-18 years on drug charges. I am pretty certain the judge said she was RRRI eligible. How does she get in a program for this? Whom do you ask about it?

  182. I’m guessing you are confused about the actual sentence imposed as that does not sound like a sentence that could be imposed in Pennsylvania. You should have an attorney review the actual sentence imposed to verify whether she might or might not be eligible for RRRI.

  183. Darby Hawkins says:

    My son has been incarcerated since October 31,2017. He was sentenced 18-24 months and is RRRI eligible. His paperwork states his RRRI Minimum (Dec 15,2018) however he his programs weren’t complete at that time. He saw the board in December and they informed him they will review upon completion of his programs. He completed his programs as of 2/1/19 and has had no write ups or issues. He just received his parole papers which say he’s on the May docket. That’s after his RRRI Min and after his regular minimum of 18 months. Is there anything that can be done?

  184. Possibly, but you’ll need to hire a lawyer to research what the holdup is. If he already has a lawyer you can follow up with that person. If not, please call to retain us and we’d be happy to help you and your son.

  185. Adi says:

    I understand if you are sentence with a gun charge with intend to distribute you are not eligible for triple r i but my son is telling me that another inmate with the same charge has triple r i can this be true. His lawyer accepted a deal for 2-4years but he can get out in 18 months but counselor is telling him that he has to do 2 years

  186. Just because a mistake is made in one case doesn’t mean it will apply to all other cases. A common misunderstanding. If you want to make sure you can hire a lawyer to verify his eligibility or lack thereof.

  187. Stacey Albright says:

    Hi! My friend just maxed out her parole violation and was re-sentenced on her special probation to state time. Her RRRi date is April 9, 2020. She rolled over to her new DOC# this past October after she maxed her old # out. DOC has already staffed her and my question is does she have to see the parole board again? From what I am reading about this program it states it is meant for inmates to not have to see the parole board but she is on the March Docket to see them? We are both confused on this. We’re not worried about her being released; she got the institutions vote and is on the honor unit. I am just curious because the actual RRRi explanation states the inmate doesn’t. Thank you for helping me understand this better.

  188. Tag says:

    Hi my husband was part of the S I P program he had a write-up and got re sentence and send to sCI Mercer. He was also granted Triple R I however when he meant from the parole board they told him the even though he was charged with that right up every sentence that they’re going to classify that right up from the halfway house write up and then that he is not eligible for parole in March he has to wait until October now isn’t that like double jeopardy

  189. Shawna says:

    My fiancé is serving a 5-10 year sentence with RRRI. his rrri minimum is 4/16/20 however he has to meet with a hearing examiner sometime next month? They’re being told he needs the vote from the hearing examiner. He has no misconducts, the recommendation from the institution, a home plan, and employment lined up. Can they deny him for any reason?

  190. Michelle says:

    My husband was sentenced to 2-4 years and eligible for RRRI in 18 months for non-violent drug charges. He was just classified at Camp Hill and his counselor told him after he completes the TC program, he may be eligible to finish his sentence at a halfway house. I cannot find any information on this. Is this even a possibility?

  191. Yes – there is a new law that is letting people out early.

  192. Was he released pursuant to RRRI? Told that’s he’s not eligible?

  193. Double Jeopardy applies to prevent people from being tried twice for the same crime. I don’t think it applies here but if you want to call us we can talk about where it stands now.

  194. An inmate can be released on RRRI without seeing the parole board first, but a hearing might still be scheduled in case the RRRI release does not occur. Then the inmate would appear before the Board.

  195. Judi says:

    Steve,
    My husband was sentenced to 2 1/2 – 5 years for financial crimes. He is currently in county and waiting for state. He was RRRI qualified. The only sentencing discussed throughout the process was a F9 with a plus or minus 9 months. The prosecuting attorney told my husbands attorney they would not kick and scream when we asked for just probation. At the sentencing hearing the prosecutor went for 10-20 years!!!! Does this even make sense to you?
    Any advice would be helpful.
    Thanks

  196. No, but this is a question best posed to your husband’s attorney. If you don’t get a satisfactory answer then you may need a consultation.

  197. Samantha says:

    My husband was sentence to 5 to 10 for possession of gun no crime complicated I hired a lawyer cuz he also has cancer he has not acknowledged anything in over a year a cell mate filed rrri and got a date and trying to fi d next date. Can you help

  198. You should call our office to speak with a live attorney – 215-997-1000. Thanks!

  199. Sami says:

    My husband was sentenced but is not Eligible for RRRI he is appealing because he believes the time frame for sentence is incorrect and he should have been RRRI ELIGIBLE due to the fact his charges were non violent is he likely to have this thing over turned or fixed when it’s entered to the higher levels and please don’t tell me to contact his lawyers not one but three have no respect in regards to keeping in touch with clients and this recent one basically told my husband to have me stop contacting him because he only deals with clients mind you this is counsel appointed by the state and they really are showing they don’t care

  200. I suggest that you have your husband contact his counsel and demand answers. If they don’t provide them then he should seek new counsel. Please feel free to call us then.

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