Cox v. Whitley

SHORTESS, Judge.

On December 14, 1983, James E. Cox was sentenced to serve 21 years in prison for manslaughter. Effective August 30, 1986, the State enacted LSA-R.S. 15:571.-14, which permitted a prisoner to opt to receive increased diminution of sentence for good behavior (double good time) in lieu of incentive wages.1 Cox was not eligible for double good time under the original version of R.S. 15:571.142 because the Legislature provided it applied “only to persons convicted of an offense and committed to the Department of Public gaiety and Corrections on or after the effective date of this…