Texas Prison Release Dates

by Kathy
(Laredo, TX)

Will my husband be released on projected release date if not given parole or mandatory supervision?

In Texas, the projected release date is a "wish and a prayer" date. It represents the minimum time the inmate must stay in prison. Families should not get their hopes that this date is really a projected date of release. It isn't.

Typically, 6-8 months prior to the projected release date the parole board will review the case. If they plan to parole the individual, the date stands. They may or may not be released on that date.

Here is what the TDCJ web site has about it. Read carefully the 2nd asterisked paragraph which will apply to most. The BPP (Board of Pardons and Paroles) has the right to do what they want to do.

(Projected Release Date: Projected Release Date is the date, which is determined by the TDCJ-CID Classification and Records Office, that an offender is projected to be released from incarceration if not released on parole sooner. The calculation of the projected release date is affected by offense title and offense date.

* If an offender committed their offense prior to 9/1/1996 and their offense is mandatory supervision eligible, the projected release date is calculated as their scheduled release date to mandatory supervision (if not paroled prior to that), when their time credits (flat time served plus good time earned) equal their total sentence.

* If an offender committed their offense on or after 9/1/1996 and their offense is mandatory supervision eligible, the projected release date is calculated as their scheduled release date to mandatory supervision (if not paroled prior to that), when their time credits (flat time served plus good time earned) equal their total sentence AND the BPP has approved their release to mandatory supervision (per the Discretionary Mandatory Supervision law); however, if the BPP denies the release on mandatory supervision, the projected release date is recalculated to reflect the same date as the maximum expiration date on the Discretionary Mandatory Supervision offense, which is otherwise known as their discharge date. Subsequent reviews by the BPP that result in approval for mandatory supervision release result in the projected release date being recalculated to an earlier date to allow for mandatory supervision release processing to occur.

* If an offender is incarcerated for an offense that by law is non-mandatory supervision eligible, their projected release date matches their maximum expiration date, when their time credits (flat time only) equals their total sentence and they therefore discharge their sentence when released (if not paroled prior to that).


The law changed in from crimes committed after 1996 allowing a discretionary move of the date forward due to the severity of the crime or if the boards requires a further type of treatment. Then the inmate will receive a new PRD for a future date.)