THE MINUMUM SENTENCE TERM TO THE STATE PRISON MUST NOT BE LESS THAN 2 1/2 YEARS, WHILE THE MAXIMUM CANNOT BE LONGER THAN THE LONGEST TERM FIXED BY LAW FOR THAT PARTICULAR CRIME. THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS FOR LIFE SENTENCES. JUDGES CAN ONLY SET A MAXIMUM TERM IF THE SENTENCE EXCEEDS 2 AND 1/2 YEARS FOR MALES SENTENCED TO MCI. THE SAME IS TRUE FOR FEMALES SENTENCED TO MCI IN IN FRAMINGHAM. A DEFENDANT FOUND TO BE SEXUALLY DANGEROUS MAY BE SENTENCED TO THE TREATMENT CENTER AT BRIDGEWATER FOR A PERIOD FROM I DAY TO LIFE. A DRUG DEPENDENT DEFENDANT ASSIGNED TO A DRUG TREATMENT FACILITY WILL HAVE HIS CHARGES DISMISSED UPON COMPLETION OF HIS PROGRAM. A HABITUAL CRIMINAL, CONVICTED OF TWO OR MORE FELONIES, MUST BE SENTENCED TO MAIMUM TERM ALLOWED BY STATUTE. IF A SENTENCE IS FOR NOT MORE THAN 6 MONTHS, THEN PERSONS CAN BE PAROLED AT ANY TIME, WHILE FOR BETWEEN 6 MONTHS AND I YEAR, THEY CAN BE PAROLED AFTER SERVING HALF OF THEIR SENTENCE. FOR MORE THAN I YEAR, THE CRIMINAL IS ELIGIBLE AFTER SERVING HALF OF THE SENTENCE BUT IS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE PAROLE BOARD. FOR EACH SENTENCE INCREMENT OF 6 YEARS IN MCI CONCORD AND FRAMINGHAM, PAROLE ELEGIBILITY IS CORRESPONDINGLY SET AHEAD 6 MONTHS. A DEFENDANT IS ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE AFTER SERVING ONE-THIRD OF HIS MINIMUM SENTENCE, BUT NOT LESS THAN I YEAR. THOSE WITH LIFE SENTENCES ARE ELIGIBLE AFTER 15 YEARS WITH THE CONSENT OF THE PAROLE BOARD. INMATES CAN RECEIVE WORK RELEASES AND FURLOUGHS EXEPT FOR CERTAIN CRIMES. A SENTENCE MAY BE REDUCED BY: (1) NUMBER OF DAYS CONFINED WHILE AWAITING TRIAL; (2) DONATING BLOOD; (3) GOOD CONDUCT IN WORK AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. LISTS OF CRIMES AND GOOD CONDUCT DEDUCTIONS ARE INCLUDED. (JLF)