Editing Year and a day rule (section)

==As a sentence for felons==
A year and a day is a minimum incarceration sentence for [[felony|felonies]] in many jurisdictions, and is one of the main features distinguishing felonies from [[misdemeanors]]. For some crimes, this is the minimum penalty, as traditionally in English-speaking, common law countries, [[misdemeanor]]s may not entail a sentence of more than a year, whereas [[felony|felonies]] are traditionally punished by incarceration of over one year, hence "a year and a day." Furthermore, in many jurisdictions, prisoners are eligible for parole only if their sentences are longer than a year; by imposing a sentence of a year and a day, judges can offer defendants a chance at parole. In the United States federal system, only sentences exceeding one year allow prisoners to obtain early release for good behaviour while incarcerated.<ref>{{cite web |title=18 U.S. Code § 3624 - Release of a prisoner |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/3624 |via=cornell.edu |work=[[Title 18 of the United States Code]] |quote=...a prisoner who is serving a term of imprisonment of more than 1 year ... may receive credit toward the service of the prisoner's sentence ... subject to determination by the Bureau of Prisons that, during that year, the prisoner has displayed exemplary compliance with institutional disciplinary regulations. }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Bistrong|first=Richard|date=2016-07-19|title=Richard Bistrong: Why do judges sentence defendants to 'a year and a day' in prison? {{!}} The FCPA Blog|url=https://fcpablog.com/2016/07/19/richard-bistrong-why-do-judges-sentence-defendants-to-a-year/|access-date=2021-02-10|website=fcpablog.com|language=en-US}}</ref> As a result, a sentence of a year and a day can lead to less time served than a sentence of a year.