February 16, 2026: Monday

Calculator

At Prison Professors, we strive to build tools that help people prepare for the best possible outcome. Preparation begins with clarity. When a person understands timelines, incentives, and potential opportunities, that person can make better decisions.

To assist members of our community, we’ve developed a free sentence calculator that helps project prospective release dates:

https://www.prisonprofessors.org/sentence-calculator

Anyone can access it.

The calculator provides projections, not guarantees. There will always be unknown variables that influence an actual release date. Still, informed projections are far better than uncertainty.

How the Calculator Works

The process is straightforward.

A user enters:

• The total sentence length

• The anticipated surrender date

• Eligibility for First Step Act time credits

• Intent to participate in RDAP

Those inputs help our calculator project release dates.

If a person qualifies for First Step Act time credits and actively participates in approved programs, time credits may accelerate transfer to home confinement. If a person qualifies for RDAP and completes the program successfully, that may also influence the timeline.

These factors can significantly change a projected release date.

But projections require honesty and engagement. Time credits are earned through participation. RDAP reductions require completion.

Preparation must be intentional.

Why We Use Projections

There are always unknown variables.

For example, consider someone serving a 48-month sentence who qualifies for both First Step Act credits and RDAP. We cannot know when administrators will begin the next RDAP cycle. We cannot know when the person will be admitted into the program. We cannot predict administrative delays, transfers, or institutional adjustments.

Because of those unknowns, our calculator provides estimated projections for:

• Transition to home confinement

• Completion of the sentence

These estimates help people plan, but they do not replace personal responsibility or engagement with case managers and administrators.

Clarity supports strategy. Strategy supports progress.

Using Information to Build a Plan

Understanding a projected timeline should prompt action.

If a person expects to earn time credits, that person should ask:

• Am I enrolled in approved programs?

• Am I documenting participation?

• Am I building a record of preparation?

If a person intends to pursue RDAP, that person should:

• Confirm eligibility early

• Maintain clear conduct

• Prepare for program participation

Information without action has limited value.

Information combined with execution creates opportunity.

Building Practical Resources

We built this calculator because too many people move through the system without understanding how time credits, program participation, and administrative processes influence release dates.

Fear often comes from uncertainty. Uncertainty decreases when people understand the structure of the system.

We are committed to building practical tools that help people develop mitigation strategies, release plans, and documented records of preparation.

And we will continue offering these resources without charge.

A Simple Encouragement

If you or someone you love is preparing to surrender, already serving time, or planning for transition, use the calculator. Study the projections. Then build a strategy.

• Define success.

• Set goals.

• Measure progress.

• Adjust when necessary.

• Execute consistently.

We will keep building tools that empower people to prepare for the best possible outcome.

Build and build.