New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 7 - DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND COMMUNITY SUPERVISION
Chapter V - Procedures for Implementing the Standards of Incarcerated Individual Behavior and for Granting Good Behavior Time Allowances
Subchapter D - Merit Time
Part 280 - Procedures For Granting Merit Time
Section 280.1 - Purpose

Inmates serving sentences for certain nonviolent crimes may receive merit time allowances against their sentences provided they have achieved certain significant programmatic objectives, have not committed any serious disciplinary infractions and have not filed any frivolous lawsuits. In the case of an indeterminate sentence, the merit eligibility date is the parole eligibility date minus the merit time allowance as outlined in section 280.3 of this Part. In the case of a determinate sentence, the merit eligibility date is five-sevenths of the imposed term, as outlined in section 280.3 of this Part. When granted, merit time allowances enable inmates to appear before the Board of Parole for possible release on parole on their merit eligibility dates. A merit time allowance is a privilege to be earned by the inmate and no inmate has the right to demand or require that any such allowance be granted. This Subchapter sets forth the policy and procedures for granting and withholding merit time allowances.