Ten year sentences of six to seven years are acceptable. According to the provisions of the Criminal Law, a criminal sentenced to public surveillance, criminal detention, fixed-term imprisonment or life imprisonment may have his sentence commuted if, during the period of execution, he conscientiously observes prison regulations, accepts education and reform, and shows true repentance or performs meritorious service. If a person is sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment, the term actually executed after commutation shall not be less than half of the original sentence. Therefore, criminals sentenced to 10 years can be released from prison as soon as five years. In general, you can only get out of prison after serving your sentence; If you behave well, you can get a 7-8 year commutation. If you have made significant contributions in prison, you can be released after at least 5 years.
 Legal basis
 Article 78 of the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China [Conditions and limits for commutation of sentence] A criminal sentenced to public surveillance, criminal detention, fixed-term imprisonment or life imprisonment may have his sentence commuted if, during the period of execution, he conscientiously observes prison regulations, accepts education and reform, shows true repentance, or performs meritorious service; A person who has performed one of the following major meritorious services shall have his sentence commuted:
 （1） Stopping others from committing major criminal activities;
 （2） Reporting major criminal activities inside and outside the prison, which are verified through investigation;
 （3） Having inventions, creations or major technological innovations;
 （4） Sacrificing oneself to save others in daily production and life;
 （5） Outstanding performance in resisting natural disasters or eliminating major accidents;
 （6） Having made other significant contributions to the country and society.
 The term actually executed after commutation shall not be less than the following:
 （1） If a sentence of public surveillance, criminal detention or fixed-term imprisonment is imposed, it shall not be less than half of the original sentence;
 （2） If life imprisonment is imposed, it shall not be less than 13 years;
 （3） If a criminal whose death sentence is suspended by a people's court in accordance with the provisions of the second paragraph of Article 50 of this Law and whose commutation of sentence is restricted, he shall be commuted to life imprisonment according to law after the expiration of the suspension of execution, he shall not be less than twenty-five years; if he is commuted to twenty-five years' fixed-term imprisonment according to law after the expiration of the suspension of execution, he shall not be less than twenty years.