Case Plan Credit Time (CPCT) Overview
Case Plan Credit Time, or CPCT, is a change in how educational and programming credits are awarded to the incarcerated population, prompted by legislation approved in Indiana in 2020. Prior to the new legislation, less than 1% of the incarcerated population was earning the maximum amount of credit they were entitled to, and many were not earning credit time for the jobs they were doing inside DOC facilities.
Under CPCT, DOC has transitioned away from time cut programs, where individuals would earn a certain amount of credit for specific programs, to a case plan, where credit is earned based on progress made toward an individual’s unique goals. Under CPCT, each individual has the opportunity to earn the maximum amount of credit available to them.
CPCT allows individuals to earn up to 1 day of credit for every 3 days of participation in programming and classes geared toward each individual’s needs. This credit is separate from credit that can also be awarded for good behavior during incarceration.
CPCT Processing
Under CPCT, each individual gets periodic reviews to calculate and apply their credit based on progress made toward their specific goals in their case plan. The number and the length of the reviews is based upon the individuals length of incarceration.
The reviews are seen and processed by the facility and Central Office staff. Because each review is unique to that individual, staff are not able to predict exactly when a review will be completed and the time that will be entered.
CPCT Eligibility
All incarcerated individuals admitted to the Department after January 1, 2022, and who upon their arrival at their initial housing facility have greater than 180 days to their EPRD, will automatically be entered into the Case Plan Credit Time (CPCT) structure. Those with less than 180 days between arrival at their initial housing facility and their release are not eligible for CPCT due to the Case Plan not being required. CPCT is designed so that an incarcerated individual receives additional educational credit time of no more than one (1) day for every three (3) days spent under the Case Plan.
For more detailed information read CPCT Structure Policy 01-07-101 on our policy page.
FAQs
If you have a question about a specific individual, please provide their name and DOC number and your specific question to DOCCPCT@idoc.in.gov, and someone will get back with you as soon as possible.
- What Are the Benefits of CPCT?
What Are the Benefits of CPCT?
The Individual Case Plan incorporates traditional services such as Addiction Recovery Treatment, vocational and education training, and many other programs that may reduce a person’s likelihood of recidivism. CPCT gives low risk incarcerated individuals access to earning credit time that they otherwise would not receive due to being ineligible for programs based on risk. Incarcerated individuals with cognitive, mental health, and/or medical conditions, which prevent them from formal programming are eligible to earn credit time in CPCT based on treatment progress and behavior.
- How Much CPCT Time Am I Eligible For?
How Much CPCT Time Am I Eligible For?
CPCT is designed to give an incarcerated individual approximately one day for every three days spent under CPCT and requires the incarcerated individual to have a current case plan. The maximum amount of CPCT time that can be awarded across an entire episode of incarceration is the least of three options. 1.) One-third of the time the incarcerated individual has to serve upon arrival at their initial permanent housing facility; 2.) One-third of the total sentence term; or 3.) The statutory maximum allowed (2 years under the new code or four years under the old code).
- Is CPCT retroactive?
Is CPCT retroactive?
No, CPCT began on January 1, 2022. Incarcerated individuals have the opportunity to earn the remainder of the maximum number of allowable credit days by making progress on their individual case plan.
- What Factors in CPCT Determine Time Cuts?
What Factors in CPCT Determine Time Cuts?
The personalized goals or program referrals on the incarcerated individual’s case plan that they comply with or are making progress towards, their job participation or general facility behavior if not employed, if applicable, progress towards a treatment goal. Statutory conduct requirements do apply (in some cases an incarcerated individual could pass their review but not be statutorily eligible for the time cut).
- How Does CPCT Work if an Incarcerated Individual has Multiple Sentences
How Does CPCT Work if an Incarcerated Individual has Multiple Sentences
The amount of time someone is eligible to receive or the number of reviews they receive is NOT affected by the number of sentences in an episode or by whether those sentences are served concurrently or consecutively.
- How Long Does a CPCT Time Cut Take to be Processed?
How Long Does a CPCT Time Cut Take to be Processed?
The Facility completes CPCT reviews based on an incarcerated individual’s review date. Central Office then has a two-step process and in both steps the reviews are processed based SOLELY ON AN INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL’S CURRENT PRD. Legacy time cuts have always been processed by Central Office based on PRD.
- Why Does the Amount of CPCT Time I am Eligible not Start Until I arrive at My First Permanent Housing Facility?
Why Does the Amount of CPCT Time I am Eligible not Start Until I arrive at My First Permanent Housing Facility?
This is because an incarcerated individual can NOT participate in CPCT until they have a case plan. An incarcerated individual does NOT have a case plan until they are at their first permanent housing facility. IDOC cannot give CPCT time for time not spent under CPCT structure.
- How are Review Dates Determined?
How are Review Dates Determined?
First, the number of reviews is calculated based on how long the incarcerated individual has to serve upon arrival at their first permanent housing facility. Then the maximum amount of credit time possible plus 45 days for re-entry planning is subtracted from the length of sentence and the reviews are split into even periods.