How much of a class A felony sentence do you have to serve in Missouri? In Missouri, the amount of time you must serve for a class A felony sentence depends on the nature of the offense, the specifics of your case, and whether parole is available.
If you’re facing class A felony charges anywhere in Missouri, you need to speak with a Combs Waterkotte criminal defense attorney immediately. Call (314) 900-HELP or reach out online to schedule a confidential case review with one of our skilled felony defense lawyers where you can discuss the specifics of your case. Our legal team has over 40 years of experience, successfully handling more than 10,000 cases just like yours.
In addition to the statutory minimum of 10 years, here’s a breakdown of how much time must be typically served for a class A felony in Missouri:
Violent Class A Felony Offenses
For violent class A felonies, Missouri often requires offenders to serve a significant portion of their sentence before becoming eligible for parole. Parole might not be an option at all in some cases.
- First-Degree Murder: In cases where someone is convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole or the death penalty, they will never be eligible for parole. Therefore, the entire sentence must be served.
- Other Violent Crimes: This includes crimes such as kidnapping, first-degree assault, armed criminal actions, and many others. Here, according to Missouri’s “85 Percent Rule”, any offender who has been found guilty of a dangerous felony shall be required to serve a minimum prison term of 85 percent of the sentence imposed by the court or until the offender attains 70 years of age and has served at least 40 percent of the sentence.
Nonviolent Class A Felony Offenses
The rules are a bit more flexible for some nonviolent class A felonies in Missouri. Depending on your specific charge and your criminal history, parole eligibility might come sooner. For some drug offenses, parole eligibility might occur after a smaller percentage of the sentence is served. However, these cases are typically evaluated on an individual basis and without a strict percentage, unlike the 85% rule. That’s precisely why hiring an experienced Combs Waterkotte class A felony defense lawyer is a good idea.
Life Sentences for Class A Felony Offenses
For certain class A felonies where someone is sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole, Missouri law requires that the offender serve 30 years before becoming eligible for parole. Under the Missouri Parole Board’s Rules and Regulations Governing the Granting of Paroles and Conditional Releases, a life sentence is 30 years except for a first-degree murder offense where life is in fact life without parole.
Credit for Time Served/Good Behavior for Class A Felony Offenses
Missouri allows for credits earned for good behavior, reducing the time served before parole eligibility. These “good times credits” are calculated based on the inmate’s behavior and participation in rehabilitation programs, but don’t apply to offenders under the 85% rule.
How Much of a Class A Felony Sentence Do You Have to Serve in Missouri? Contact Combs Waterkotte Right Away
The time served for a class A felony in Missouri depends on the crime’s nature and whether parole is an option. Having an expert Combs Waterkotte felony defense attorney by your side can help.
Call (314) 900-HELP or reach out online for a free consultation with a knowledgeable lawyer.
