The department may grant an inmate up to ninety days of earned discharge credits for each program completion; up to ninety days of earned discharge credits upon completion of three hundred sixty hours of satisfactory work not to exceed one hundred eighty days of earned discharge credit for work in a twelve-month period; and up to three hundred sixty-five days of earned discharge credits for heroic acts in life threatening situations, through significant efforts in disaster response or by providing exceptional assistance in maintaining the safety and security of a prison. Each program shall fit the definition of evidence based practices as defined in § 16-22-1, or consist of an academic or vocational program. Earned discharge credits under this section may be granted if in the judgement of the warden and the secretary of corrections, the inmate has met the criteria set forth in this section. Nothing in this section may be the basis for establishing a constitutionally protected liberty, property, or due process interest in any inmate. Any earned discharge credit under this section shall be applied to the sentence prior to the calculation of the initial parole date.
SDCL 24-15A-50.1