Press Releases

September 25, 2012: Sentence Calculator, Inc., announces the launch of a “first-of-its-kind” online sentencing tool for determining inmates’ release dates in New York City local and New York State jurisdictions. Read press release >

Access and Registration

How do I create a sentencecalculator.com Custom ID and Password?

Launch www.sentencecalculator.com. Click ‘New Member Registration’ and follow the steps to create your Custom ID and Password.

Are there guidelines for creating my sentencecalculator.com Custom ID?

Create your Custom ID according to the following guidelines:

• The Custom ID must contain 8 to 25 characters (alpha characters and/or numeric characters 0 through 9).
• The Custom ID can contain special characters: @ _ (underscore) . (period) - (hyphen).
• The Custom ID cannot be already in use.
• The Custom ID cannot contain spaces or international characters.
• The Custom ID cannot contain only numbers.
• The Custom ID cannot contain offensive words.
• The Custom ID cannot contain your first and last name (e.g. JOHNSMITH).
• The Custom ID cannot contain Sentence Calculator names (e.g. sentencecalculator.com, etc.).

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Are there guidelines for selecting my sentencecalculator.com Password?

Create your Password according to the following guidelines:

• The Password must contain at least six (6) characters.
• The Password must contain at least one letter and one number.
• The Password cannot contain special characters (except @._-).
• The Password cannot contain spaces.
• The Password cannot contain your first or last name.
• The Password cannot contain your Sentence Calculator ID.
• The Password cannot be the same as any of your previous three (3) passwords.

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What if I forget my sentencecalculator.com Custom ID?

Click the "Forgot your username?" link on the Login page.

Technical Issues

If you experience any technical problems, or have technical questions about the Sentence Calculator service, please send email to info@sentencecalculator.com.

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Functional Issues*

How do I know which Sentence Calculatr module to use in each case/situation?

Each Sentence Calculator module's title is self-descriptive, and most modules also have an additional description of the legal basis for the calculations. You can also send an email to info@sentencecalculator.com describing the client’s/inmate's situation and what type of calculation you are trying to perform. We will respond as quickly as possible, typically within two (2) business days.

The Sentence Calculator modules are designed to be very user friendly, and you may not need any assistance in their application and use, even at the outset. However, if you do need some help initially, you are likely to find that after you use the calculators for a period of time, you become increasingly familiar with their application, functionality, and ease of use.

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What if I have a complex calculation that goes back several years (e.g., my client has violated parole several times over the past years on the same case) and this cannot be handled by your modules?

Send an email to info@sentencecalculator.com containing all the information you have on the client and the information you require about the client’s potential release dates. We will respond and advise you what information you need to provide to us in order for us to do the calculations. This information may be readily available in your files and/or your client’s rap sheet. But, in most cases, you will have to get the information from the NYS DOCCS prison Office of Sentencing Review (Ph: 518-457-4652) and/or the NYC Department of Corrections (DOC) Legal Division (Ph: 718-546-0973). You may also need your client’s authorization to obtain these records.

Once we receive this information from you we will work to send you the results within five (5) to seven (7) business days. In most cases we should be able to calculate the release dates and produce the required result. However, if we cannot perform the calculations and produce the required results, we will advise you so and suggest what other options, if any, you might pursue.

The cost of performing these custom calculations will be as follows:

1. For a six (6)-month subscription, we will perform one (1) calculation free of charge during the subscription period.

2. If you have a 12-month subscription plan, we will perform two (2) calculations free of charge during the subscription period.

3. For any additional requests during the subscription period, we will charge $25.00 for each such request.

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Can I use any Sentence Calculator module to calculate several possible sentencing options for my client?

Absolutely! This is one of the most useful features of the Sentence Calculator system. Once you key in the initial input data you can easily calculate the client's release dates for different sentencing options with the click of a button. Just input the potential new sentence and click on “Calculate” – it’s that simple.

For the first time, you will be able to eliminate much of the time and difficulty that these calculations typically involve – perhaps allowing them to become even enjoyable and certainly giving you a professional edge.

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How accurate are the sentencecalculator.com calculations and results?

We strive to produce results that are 100% accurate to the day, compared with similar calculations being performed by NYC DOC and NYS DOCCS, and in most instances they will be 100% accurate. However, if there are variations in our results compared with NYC DOC and NYS DOCCS results, in most cases, our calculations will not vary by more than +/- five (5) days when compared with NYS DOCCS and NYC DOC calculations, provided the same accurate input data is used. Larger variations in results are usually caused by unknown events such as: the facility cancelling “good time” or “merit time” credit for certain inmate infractions that neither the attorney nor we are aware of. Such variations can be confirmed by contacting the facility where the inmate is housed and talking to the Inmate Records Coordinator.

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Does the Sentence Calculator system cover all calculation situations for Definite, Determinate and Indeterminate Sentences, and Parole and Post-Release Supervision Violations?

With approximately 55 calculator modules currently programmed in the Sentence Calculator system, we feel that the system covers almost all criminal law sentence calculation situations that legal professionals may face on a daily basis. If there are any calculations that are not covered we are committed to quickly researching these calculations and adding them to our repertoire of calculators at no additional charge to a current subscriber.

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What happens if the laws change? How will that affect the sentencecalculator.com calculations?

We are committed to making appropriate changes to our calculator modules in order to keep up to date with any changes to the Penal Laws and Criminal Procedure laws of New York State that have a direct bearing on our calculations. The modular design of the database enables us to make such programming changes relatively quickly.

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When I input dates into the sentencecalculator.com calculator modules, do have to use the calendar function?

No. While the “point and click” calendar function is easy to use, you may also key in dates using the format: mm-dd-yyyy.

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Do I always have to use the “Jail Time/Add Jail Time Period” rows to add jail time?

No. In fact, in most instances you will already know the total number of pre-trial jail time credit your client has. In those instances, simply key in the total number of days (e.g., 105) in the “Additional Jail Time Credit” field instead of the “Jail Time/Add Jail Time Period’ rows.”

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** All answers are subject to the Legal Disclaimer

Terence Davidson, M.A Ed., MCJ
Founder and President
Sentence Calculator, Inc.
New York, New York

Mercy Davidson, M.Sc., PhD
Senior Research Scientist
Columbia University Department of Radiation Oncology
New York, New York

Mission

Sentence Calculator, a criminal law sentencing aid, seeks to provide all personnel involved in sentencing review with a simple, easy-to-use tool that quickly performs the complex calculations often required to determine accurate release dates – particularly those within the framework of the laws contained in the various sections of Article 70 of the New York State Penal Law.

How It Works

Conceived of and developed by Terry Davidson, Sentence Calculator is the culmination of an automated system created, refined and used by Mr. Davidson to address clients’ needs for timely, accurate and reliable information regarding potential and actual sentencing impact.

Now, Sentence Calculator is available to legal and judicial professionals, legal assistance and educational institutions, corrections personnel and any individual who may be affected in some way by a criminal sentence.

Sentence Calculator is user-friendly and requires only that subscribers input basic, essential information – for example: the sentence date, actual length of the sentence and days spent in jail by the client while awaiting sentencing. The state-of-the-art system then takes on the task of performing complex logic and calculations behind the scenes, ultimately presenting the user with final results and release dates. The system has been designed for use by legal assistants, paralegals, court clerks and anyone who has access to accurate input data.

Subjected to thorough and ongoing testing based on actual New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) case studies, Sentence Calculator has benefited from consultation with experts from all aspects of the legal, judicial, enforcement and educational fields. In addition, our system is continually updated with regards to changes in the penal law.

Terence Davidson, Founder and President, Sentence Calculator, Inc.

Over a period of 8 years, Terry learned the nuances of the law and the mathematical calculations involved in accurately calculating inmates’ sentencing, jail time credits and release dates after they were sentenced.

Terry also holds an M.A. in Educational Administration with a major in Management Systems from Columbia University, New York, and an M.A. in Criminal Justice majoring in Criminal Law and Procedure from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. He has over 25 years’ experience creating, designing and managing administrative computing systems while working in senior management positions at several organizations.