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Michele Deitch, expert on US prisons and sentencing policy, will be in discussion with CCJS Director, Richard Garside and other invited guests, on the real lessons of recent Texas prisons policy. These include the earned progression model for prisoners – the so-called ‘good time’ scheme – under which prisoners can earn an earlier parole hearing on the basis of good behaviour.
The Texas ‘good time’ scheme has been praised in David Gauke’s recently-published Independent Sentencing Review, and by the government, with Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood telling parliament that Texas had “brought their prison population under control”.
Inspired by the Texas scheme, the government is exploring the potential for an earned progression scheme in England and Wales. Under the scheme, those who cooperate could earn early release, while those who “behave excessively badly” would have to wait longer than currently is the case to be released.

• Is the Texas ‘good time’ scheme all that it is cracked up to be?
• Can an earned progression scheme really help England and Wales bring its prison population under control?
• Is the Texas approach one to be emulated, or one to be avoided?