Chap. 0277 An Act relative to time off for good behavior in the case of prisoners in certain state penal and reformatory institutions.

Be it enacted, etc., as follows:

Section one hundred and thirty of chapter one hundred and twenty-seven of the General Laws, as amended by section one of chapter two hundred and sixty-four of the acts of nineteen hundred and thirty-eight, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word "deductions" in the thirty-eighth line the words: - , from both the former sentence and any subsequent sentence of imprisonment for the offence of which he was so convicted, - so as to read as follows: - Section ISO. Every officer in charge of a prison or other place of confinement, except the state farm, shall keep a record of the conduct of each prisoner in his custody whose term of imprisonment is four months or more. Every such prisoner whose record of conduct shows that he has faithfully observed all the rules and has not been subjected to punishment shall be entitled to a deduction from the maximum term for which he may be held under his sentence, which shall be determined as follows: upon a sentence of not less than four months and less than one year, one day for each month; upon a sentence of not less than one year and less than three years, three days for each month; upon

a sentence of not less than three years and less than five years, four days for each month; upon a sentence of not less than five years and less than ten years, five days for each month; upon a sentence of ten years or more, six days for each month. If a prisoner has two or more sentences to be served otherwise than concurrently, the aggregate of his several sentences shall be the basis upon which the deduction shall be determined. A prisoner who is entitled to such deduction shall receive a written permit' to be at liberty during the time so deducted, upon such terms as the board which grants the permit shall prescribe, which, in the case of a prisoner sentenced or transferred to a state institution, shall include a minimum requirement that he shall reside in a home approved by said board. If a prisoner violates any of the rules of his prison or other place of confinement, in the case of a prisoner sentenced or transferred to a state institution, the commissioner, upon recommendations and evidence submitted to him in writing by the warden, superintendent or officer in charge, and, in the case of a prisoner sentenced to and confined in a county institution, the board authorized to grant permits to such prisoners, shall decide what part of such deduction shall be forfeited by such violation. If, during the term of imprisonment of a prisoner sentenced or transferred to a state institution, such prisoner shall commit any offence of which he shall be convicted, all such deductions, from both the former sentence and any subsequent sentence of imprisonment for the offence of which he was so convicted, shall be thereby forfeited.

Approved May 15, 1941.