Barber v. Thomas, 560 U.S. 474 (2010), is a United States Supreme Court case in which the Court held, 6–3, that prisoners incarcerated in federal prisons are entitled to up to 54 days of "good time credits" for every year they are incarcerated, allowing federal inmates to reduce their sentence by up to 54 days per year of imprisonment for exhibiting good behavior.[1] The case concerned how the United States Federal Bureau of Prisons should calculate "good time credits": whether they should be calculated based on the length of the sentence levied by the judge, or by the time actually served by the inmate.[2]
The petitioner, Michael Barber, sought habeas corpus in a federal district court. He argued that the Bureau of Prisons "inaccurately calculated his good time credit toward the service of his federal sentence." Barber argued that the BOP should have calculated good time credit based on the sentence imposed rather than the time actually served in prison. Barber's petition was denied by the district court, on appeal the Ninth Circuit affirmed the ruling of the lower courts citing Tablada v. Daniels noting that the good time credit statute was ambiguous and the BOP's interpretation was reasonable.[3]
Opinion of the Courtedit
The court affirmed the lower court's ruling with a 6–3 vote. Barber's attorneys argued that by allowing up to 54 days' credit for each year "of the prisoner's term of imprisonment," Congress intended federal sentences to be reduced by as much as 54 days for each year of the sentence imposed by the judge. The government argued that the reduction applied at the end of each year that is actually served. Under that interpretation, which prevailed, since the sentence keeps being reduced year after year, less credit in total is awarded. The difference is about one week per year for every federal prisoner serving a term of more than a year's duration. Justice Stephen Breyer wrote the majority opinion, while Justice Kennedy wrote the dissent.
^Cecere, Carl (June 9, 2010). "Statutory incoherence takes the fun out of "good time" credits under Section 3624(b)(1)". SCOTUSblog. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
^Mears, Bill (March 30, 2010). "Supreme Court justices have a good time debating 'good time'". CNN. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
^"Barber v. Thomas 560 US _____(2010)". Oyez: Chicago Kent College of Law. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
External linksedit
Text of Barber v. Thomas, 560U.S. 474 (2010) is available from:Google ScholarJustiaOyez (oral argument audio)
barber, thomas, 2010, united, states, supreme, court, case, which, court, held, that, prisoners, incarcerated, federal, prisons, entitled, days, good, time, credits, every, year, they, incarcerated, allowing, federal, inmates, reduce, their, sentence, days, ye. Barber v Thomas 560 U S 474 2010 is a United States Supreme Court case in which the Court held 6 3 that prisoners incarcerated in federal prisons are entitled to up to 54 days of good time credits for every year they are incarcerated allowing federal inmates to reduce their sentence by up to 54 days per year of imprisonment for exhibiting good behavior 1 The case concerned how the United States Federal Bureau of Prisons should calculate good time credits whether they should be calculated based on the length of the sentence levied by the judge or by the time actually served by the inmate 2 Barber v ThomasSupreme Court of the United StatesArgued March 30 2010Decided June 7 2010Full case nameMichael Gary Barber et al Petitioners v J E Thomas WardenDocket no 09 5201Citations560 U S 474 more 130 S Ct 2499 177 L Ed 2d 1 78 USLW 4509 10 Cal Daily Op Serv 6983 2010 Daily Journal D A R 8311 22 Fla L Weekly Fed S 419HoldingA federal inmate who demonstrates good behavior is entitled to 54 days credit for every year of actual imprisonment Court membershipChief Justice John Roberts Associate Justices John P Stevens Antonin ScaliaAnthony Kennedy Clarence ThomasRuth Bader Ginsburg Stephen BreyerSamuel Alito Sonia SotomayorCase opinionsMajorityBreyer joined by Roberts Scalia Thomas Alito SotomayorDissentKennedy joined by Stevens Ginsburg Contents 1 Background 2 Opinion of the Court 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksBackground editThe petitioner Michael Barber sought habeas corpus in a federal district court He argued that the Bureau of Prisons inaccurately calculated his good time credit toward the service of his federal sentence Barber argued that the BOP should have calculated good time credit based on the sentence imposed rather than the time actually served in prison Barber s petition was denied by the district court on appeal the Ninth Circuit affirmed the ruling of the lower courts citing Tablada v Daniels noting that the good time credit statute was ambiguous and the BOP s interpretation was reasonable 3 Opinion of the Court editThe court affirmed the lower court s ruling with a 6 3 vote Barber s attorneys argued that by allowing up to 54 days credit for each year of the prisoner s term of imprisonment Congress intended federal sentences to be reduced by as much as 54 days for each year of the sentence imposed by the judge The government argued that the reduction applied at the end of each year that is actually served Under that interpretation which prevailed since the sentence keeps being reduced year after year less credit in total is awarded The difference is about one week per year for every federal prisoner serving a term of more than a year s duration Justice Stephen Breyer wrote the majority opinion while Justice Kennedy wrote the dissent See also editList of United States Supreme Court cases volume 560References edit Cecere Carl June 9 2010 Statutory incoherence takes the fun out of good time credits under Section 3624 b 1 SCOTUSblog Retrieved July 9 2022 Mears Bill March 30 2010 Supreme Court justices have a good time debating good time CNN Retrieved July 9 2022 Barber v Thomas 560 US 2010 Oyez Chicago Kent College of Law Retrieved January 11 2014 External links editText of Barber v Thomas 560 U S 474 2010 is available from Google Scholar Justia Oyez oral argument audio Supreme Court slip opinion archived Transcript of Oral Arguments SCOTUS Wiki page nbsp This article related to the Supreme Court of the United States is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Barber v Thomas amp oldid 1175138853, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
