First Step Act Biden. 8 percent (n=5,493) received statutory safety valve relief from the

8 percent (n=5,493) received statutory safety valve relief from the mandatory minimum penalty. It will be updated periodically as the Commission continues its policy priority work in this area. 7 percent (n=3,820) received FIRST STEP ACT OF 2018 Public Law 115–391 115th Congress An Act Dec. Federal regulations regarding Dec 12, 2018 · The FIRST STEP Act represents the beginning of the end of over-criminalization in America,” Rep. Learn more at FindLaw's section on Sentencing. Mar 26, 2021 · The First Step Act passed by overwhelming bipartisan majorities and was supported by a broad coalition of conservative and progressive groups alike,” Durbin said. Beyond sentencing reform, the FIRST STEP Act includes provisions that will improve conditions for current prisoners and address several laws that increased racial disparities in the federal prison system. "Long before the pandemic, the CARES Act, or the First Step Act, BOP already had the power to petition for the release of any federal inmate if extraordinary and compelling reasons warrant, or if an inmate met several criteria. § 924(c) – S. Oct 2, 2023 · The case focused on part of the First Step Act, bipartisan legislation passed in 2018 aimed at rolling back tough sentencing laws that had caused the country’s prison population to balloon. The First Step Act, formally known as the Formerly Incarcerated Reenter Society Transformed Safely Transitioning Every Person Act, is a bipartisan criminal justice bill passed by the 115th U. The First Step Act incentivizes prisoners to participate in evidence-based programming designed to reduce recidivism. In fiscal year 2020, 96. The revised legislation further clarifies eligibility for earned time credits following successful completion of evidence-based recidivism reduction programs, and expands on the existing list of disqualifying offenses. 21, 2018 [S. ”10 The act also revised Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. Complete eligibility requirements, program list, and credit calculation examples. Goodwin. The First Step Act (P. Jan 4, 2019 · The FIRST STEP Act will now apply the Fair Sentencing Act to 3,000 people who were convicted of crack offenses before the law went into effect. Short title; table of contents. Jul 21, 2024 · Live updates from the 2024 election campaign trail, with the latest news on Biden and Trump. Aug 22, 2023 · This brief describes why reforms included in the First Step Act have been deemed necessary to advance a fairer federal sentencing system and reduce the size of the federal prison population. Jan 17, 2025 · The First Step Act, which became law in 2018, made it possible to apply the reduced penalties to sentences for crack offenses that predated the 2010 law. As of 2016, Donald Trump described himself as pro-life with exceptions for rape, incest, and circumstances endangering the life of the mother. Text for S. Nov 8, 2025 · One recent analysis expands the timeframe to include releases through January 2023 and reports a substantially larger figure—nearly 29,946 releases —but that count aggregates broader First Step Act outcomes and post‑Act releases, not solely the retroactive sentence reductions for 2019–2021 [7]. Trump on December 21, 2018. Jul 3, 2022 · Even the Biden administration’s attempt to provide clarity to the First Step Act by identifying qualified inmates and then transferring them to home confinement or another form of supervised Dec 20, 2018 · A criminal justice reform effort known as the First Step Act is just one step — a signature from President Donald Trump — away from becoming law and changing the lives of an estimated 30% of Key Takeaways At-a-Glance: Fixing Past Sentences: The First Step Act of 2018 retroactively applied the fair_sentencing_act_of_2010, correcting sentencing disparities for crack cocaine offenses and allowing thousands of individuals to seek and receive immediate sentence reductions. Dec 19, 2023 · The First Step Act expanded options for compassionate release, including for the elderly and the seriously ill. 18 USC 1 note. § 3634, the Attorney General is required to submit a report Upon input from law enforcement, the bill excludes prisoners from receiving time credits under the First Step Act who were convicted of fentanyl or heroin offenses involving 5 and 10 year mandatory minimums and who were organizers, leaders, managers or supervisors in the offense. – FWD. 115-391) was signed into law by the President on December 21, 2018. Jan 20, 2021 · Biden is sending an immigration bill to Congress on his first day in office. In general, those impacts fall into three categories: law enforcement accountability, First Step Act implementation and prison conditions. Jun 4, 2022 · The BOP is dragging its feet on implementing the First Step Act and government prosecutors a willing participant covering for them. Jun 5, 2018 · The FIRST STEP Act would also prepare individuals to reenter their communities as responsible citizens by allowing them to serve the final days of their sentences in halfway houses or home confinement, which equips them with support structures as they transition out of custody. Apr 1, 2019 · The First Step Act expanded avenues for eligible elderly and terminally ill prisoners to get their sentences reduced by allowing for their motions to be directly filed with the courts. The act enacted several changes in U. It also introduces the new System that the Federal Bureau of Prisons will deploy in its facilities and announces the DOJ's strategic plan to evaluate, validate, and enhance the System over time. Jan 21, 2022 · "The Biden Administration has also made important improvements to the implementation of the First Step Act in the past year. the rehabilitative purpose for each First Step Act expenditure and proposal for the prior and current fiscal years, detailing the number of available and proposed dedicated programming staff and resources, the use of augmentation among Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) staff, and BOP staffing levels at each facility; Dec 3, 2018 · The retroactivity of the Fair Sentencing Act is a hard-fought win for people in prison serving these sentences. [1] He said he was committed to appointing justices who may overturn the ruling in Roe v. 115- 391). Here’s what’s in it. Unfortunately, the FIRST STEP Act would not include retroactivity for the rest of its sentencing reforms, which minimizes its impact substantially. The law aims to produce lower odds of recidivism by incentivizing incarcerated individuals to engage in rigorous, evidence-based rehabilitation and education programming. “I was proud to champion this landmark legislation with my friend and colleague, Senator Grassley. Dec 12, 2023 · Five years ago this month, Donald Trump signed a major sentencing and prison reform bill into law. ” Durbin continued, “Six years ago, the First Step Act was signed into law by President Donald Trump, during his first term in office. It requires the Attorney General (AG) to develop a risk and needs assessment system for BOP to assess the recidivism risk and criminogenic needs of all federal prisoners and to place prisoners in recidivism reducing programs and productive activities to address their needs and reduce this risk. Q: How does the First Step Act change sentencing laws? A: It improves fairness in sentencing and preserves law enforcement tools to protect public One of the first policy changes (notification and assistance) were new procedures for “compassionate release” sentence reductions under 18 U. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Congress. Among other things, its sentencing reforms made the Fair Sentencing Act retroactive, permitting people sentenced under the old 100:1 crack/powder cocaine penalty scheme to apply for resentencing as if the Fair Sentencing Act’s 18:1 ratio had been “in effect at the time the covered offense was committed. Mar 29, 2017 · Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Correctional Officer Self-Protection Act of 2018 (Sec. Jan 10, 2023 · Thousands of prisoners were released from BOP custody on January 9 as a result of implementation of the First Step Act calculator, but many were also left behind as the BOP encountered problems Mar 10, 2022 · The First Step Act’s amendments to section 3582 (c) (1) (A), which authorized the defendant to file a motion in federal court, helped facilitate the substantial increase in grants of compassionate release during the COVID-19 pandemic. First, Trump reinstated the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), a policy also known as "Remain in Mexico" that was put in place during his first term in office. The First Step Act of 2018: Risk and Needs Assessment System This report outlines the work of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to develop and implement the Risk and Needs Assessment System. Reforming Federal Criminal Sentencing Clarification of 18 U. federal criminal law aimed at reforming federal prisons and sentencing laws in order to reduce Jul 14, 2025 · The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has faced significant challenges in implementing the First Step Act (FSA), a 2018 law aimed at reforming the federal prison system. President Trump's successor, President Biden (succeeded by President Trump later), kept most of the tariffs in place, dropping tariffs on European steel while further expanding tariffs on goods such as EVs and semiconductors from China, resulting in more tax revenue being collected from tariffs under Biden than under the first Trump Jan 20, 2025 · Twelve Senate Democrats voted with Republicans to pass an immigration bill to address one of President Donald Trump's top campaign issues. The act has had meaningful impacts on non-violent incarcerated offenders in the federal prison system and their families. C. criminal justice system. Jan 25, 2024 · Five years after the First Step Act, we can say with certainty that these types of reforms make America stronger and safer, but there is more work to be done. Some of the challenges This hearing, ‘‘Five Years of the First Step Act: Reimagining Re-habilitation and Protecting Public Safety,’’ is long overdue. Today, the Committee will hear from four witnesses about the success of the First Step Act. ; Aug 31, 2020 · (August 2020) With a full year of data now available since the passage of the First Step Act of 2018, the Commission released a new report examining the Act's five sentencing reform provisions. Jan 29, 2019 · The First Step Act OVERVIEW AND PRACTICE ADVISORY NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS JANUARY 29, 2019 SENTENCING RESOURCE COUNSEL, FEDERAL PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY DEFENDERS Nov 13, 2018 · The FIRST STEP Act represents the most meaningful federal criminal justice reform bill our country has seen in decades. An Overview of the First Step Act Learn how the First Step Act affects BOP inmates and their families. 6 days ago · The House of Representatives voted 226-197 along bipartisan lines Tuesday to reverse Biden-era regulations on shower heads, a move Republican lawmakers framed as a quick and easy way to return The Takeaway: On paper, President Biden’s May 25, 2022 Executive Order could have a significant impact on the U. 202) The BOP must allow federal correctional officers to securely store and carry concealed firearms on BOP premises outside the security perimeter of a prison. On December 21, 2018, President Trump signed into law the First Step Act (FSA) of 2018 (P. [2] Trump appointed three Supreme Court justices during his Apr 26, 2022 · In addition to three pardons, Biden is expected to commute the sentences of 75 nonviolent drug offenders. Mar 26, 2019 · More Enumerated Offenses in (F)(i) with references to federal statutes: “the term ‘serious violent felony means a Federal or State offense, by whatever designation and wherever committed consisting of” murder, manslaughter other than involuntary, assaults, sex offenses, kidnapping, robbery, carjacking, extortion, arson, firearms offense, or “conspiracy, or solicitation to commit any of Directs the Director of BOP to provide de-escalation training as part of the regular training requirements of correctional officers. May 22, 2018 · The First Step Act has Trump’s support — but faces some Democratic opposition. Nov 15, 2018 · This provision ensures the retroactive application to offenders sentenced under those provisions before they were modified, who will already have served eight years of their sentence. Wade. Jan 23, 2024 · The FIRST STEP ACT reduces the number of federal prisoners and improves conditions for those incarcerated. 115-391). 4 days ago · May 22, 2018. Oct 21, 2025 · The Bureau of Prisons just made a significant change in how it works with returning inmates to the community by using a better planning tool with First Step Act credits. S. It granted judges — the people in the best position to balance public safety against the circumstances of the individual defendant — more discretion to choose an appropriate sentence. Jul 22, 2024 · After intense pressure from within his own party, President Biden said he was ending his campaign and backing Vice President Kamala Harris to run in his place. us Executive Director Zoë Towns issued the following statement today after Federal Bureau of Prisons Director William Marshall III issued a new directive taking steps to fully implement the First Step Act and the Second Chance Act: “This is welcome and overdue news that puts us on the path to full implementation of the First Step […] Nov 13, 2024 · Some Democrats are urging him to commute prison sentences that would have been shorter under the 2018 First Step Act. us, a database of bills in the U. Dec 17, 2019 · The Sentencing Project published an analysis of the First Step Act's successes, challenges and the reform left undone. It is the most significant criminal justice reform legislation in a generation. 115-391 756) was signed into law on December 21, 2018. Sep 5, 2025 · Laws such as the First Step Act have the ability to reduce federal prison terms by up to a year and place inmates in a community setting, with strict rules, for a longer period of time. The Law Office of Brandon Sample has assembled this detailed analysis of the First Step Act 2018 to help the public understand the ins and outs of the bill. Thank you, Congressman. Jeffries said. To provide for programs to help reduce the risk that prisoners will recidivate upon release from prison, and for other purposes. Dec 8, 2025 · Learn how to earn First Step Act time credits for early release from federal prison. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress. 756] First Step Act of 2018. (a) Short Title. Oct 25, 2019 · The First Step Act was exactly that — a first step. The Act is a federal criminal justice reform bill that changes many harsh federal sentencing laws. Sep 23, 2022 · The First Step Act attempted to address these shortcom-ings. To reauthorize and amend the Marine Debris Act to promote international action to reduce marine debris, and for other purposes. (See United States v. More than a year after it was enacted in 2018, key parts of the law are working as promised, restoring a modicum of fairness to federal sentencing and helping to reduce Jun 18, 2025 · Bureau of Prisons Issues Directive to Fully Implement First Step Act and Second Chance Act WASHINGTON, DC - In order to restore integrity and fiscal responsibility to the federal prison system, the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) today issued a policy memorandum to staff directing the robust and comprehensive implementation of both the First Step Act of 2018 and the Second Chance Act of 2008—two Dec 14, 2025 · A complete explanation of the First Step Act, detailing how federal law was reformed to modify sentences and establish earned credits for early release. 1014 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): First Step Implementation Act of 2021 Dec 17, 2024 · The First Step Act shows that we can do more than be just ‘tough on crime. The Act deals mostly with reentry of the incarcerated, directing the Federal Bureau of Prisons to take specific actions regarding programming, good-time credit, and compassionate release, among other issues. Sep 18, 2025 · Discover the essential criteria for qualifying under the First Step Act. . 5682 (115th). §§ 3582 and 4205(g). The First Step Act also seeks to expand opportunities for people in federal prisons to participate in rehabilitative programming to support their success after release. It sets up a risk and needs assessment programs that classifies prisoners according to their risk. Dec 20, 2018 · The reforms in the First Step Act will reduce the tax burden, help law enforcement fight crime, stop the revolving prison door, and give nonviolent, low-risk inmates a head start on a fresh start. Mar 4, 2019 · The First Step Act of 2018: An Overview On December 21, 2018, President Trump signed into law the First Step Act of 2018 (P. Apr 20, 2023 · First Step Implementation Act of 2023 This bill makes various changes related to federal sentencing law and requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to establish procedures to ensure the prompt release and accuracy of employment-related background check records. Congress and signed by President Donald Trump in December 2018. They will be his first clemency grants since he took office. The work that we are currently doing: Looking at inmates' needs and risk assessment and how the Bureau of Prisons is implementing that particular Jun 20, 2025 · WASHINGTON, D. The Act also expands compassionate release for qualifying federal inmates and offers current federal inmates rehabilitative programming and the possibility for early release from prison. This program states that all asylum-seekers or refugees who arrive at the southern border seeking entry into the United States must remain in or return to Mexico while they await their admission or court removal proceedings, if already Mar 4, 2019 · These documents were prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). —This Act may be cited as the “Formerly Incarcerated Reenter Society Transformed Safely Transitioning Every Person Act” or the “FIRST STEP Act”. 1917 Section 104 applied prospectively: This section clarifies that the enhanced mandatory minimum sentence for using a firearm during a crime of violence or drug crime is limited to Jun 20, 2023 · You can’t overstate how much the First Step Act mattered to Trump’s 2020 run, especially after he realized that Joe Biden, who helped author the 1994 crime bill loathed by criminal justice reform advocates, would win the Democratic nomination. I want to thank Ranking Member Gra-ham and his staff for working with us to select today Jun 23, 2020 · The First Step Act is intended to do two things: cut unnecessarily long federal sentences and improve conditions in federal prison. Dec 21, 2023 · The First Step Act was a bipartisan effort to make our criminal justice system more fair, effective, compassionate, and humane while also creating mechanisms to maintain public safety. The First Step Act of 2018: One Year of Implementation August 2020 (August 2020) With a full year of data now available since the passage of the First Step Act of 2018, the Commission Feb 22, 2021 · Advocates for criminal justice reform are pressuring President Joe Biden to correct problems with implementing the First Step Act. ’ We can be, once and for all, smart on crime and achieve accountability without excessive punishment and incarceration. The social policy of the first Donald Trump administration was generally socially conservative. Harris said she would seek the 5 days ago · President Trump has once again threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, this time to stop protests in Minnesota. Not all past offenders, though, may be re-sentenced under the First Step Act. Bureau of Prisons that they haven't implemented the First Step Act have for those in Federal custody and what lessons should current Administration fund? Ms. Ms. Aug 31, 2020 · In First Step Act Year One, of 13,138 drug traficking offenders convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum penalty, 41. The First Step Act authorized eligible low-risk and elderly inmates to be transferred to home confinement when possible. The “lock ’em up and throw away the key” policies of the ’80s and ’90s failed us, and dozens of red and blue states have already passed these reforms, safely reduced their prison populations, and simultaneously Nala The First Step Act – Q1 2024 Facts & Findings The First Step Act was a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill that was signed into law by President Donald J. Dec 11, 2024 · This toolkit provides a collection of publicly available resources on First Step Act Earned Time Credits. 0 percent of Offenders Granted Relief filed their own motion. Jul 25, 2021 · The men had been released early from prison under the First Step Act, a sweeping bipartisan bill that allowed federal prisoners with qualifying drug offenses to apply for release. Understand your eligibility and take the first step towards change. At this weekend’s forum in South Carolina, candidates and those in office must be ready to discuss the next steps in order to achieve the comprehensive criminal justice reform that they seek. Mar 15, 2024 · The US Supreme Court said “and” doesn’t mean “and” in the First Step Act, making fewer criminal defendants eligible to take advantage of relief intended to undo harsh prison sentences in drug cases. Jan 25, 2021 · Steps to strengthen the nation's Covid-19 response and restore environmental protections are among Biden's first measures as president. The First Step Act 2018 Bill Summary: On December 21, 2018, the President signed into law The First Step Act 2018, a bipartisan effort to reform the federal criminal justice system. R. Nov 3, 2025 · The First Step Act stands as a notable bipartisan achievement that altered federal sentencing architecture, introduced incentives for rehabilitation, and produced measurable sentence reductions for some individuals. For example, just a few days ago, the Administration significantly revised how it will calculate the invaluable Earned Time Credits using a much more reasonable and less restrictive formula than originally proposed. So what does the law allow? In December 2018, Trump signed the First Step Act, a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill which sought to rehabilitate prisoners and reduce recidivism, notably by expanding job training and early-release programs, and lowering mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenders. Known as the First Step Act, the law was wildly popular with Congress and the public, giving WHAT IS THE FIRST STEP ACT? In late 2018, President Donald Trump signed into law a criminal justice bill called the Formerly Incarcerated Reenter Society Transformed Safety Transition Every Person Act, or “First Step Act,” into law. Jun 14, 2022 · And although some judges disagree, many have ruled that because the First Step Act acknowledged the inappropriately long sentences resulting from drug and gun enhancements before the Act, defendants who received those sentences present an extraordinary and compelling reason for compassionate release. Signed Into Law on December 21st, 2018 The First Step Act (P. CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. This act encourages and assists offenders to earn additional time off their Aug 22, 2023 · Brief highlights early outcomes of bipartisan First Step Act on rehabilitation, recidivism, and excessive sentences Jan 13, 2023 · The Federal Government has not adequately communicated the changes made in the First Step Act. Under Section 101 of the Act, now codified in 18 U. Jun 14, 2021 · Supreme Court: First Step Act snubs some drug offenders The unanimous ruling rejects the Biden administration's interpretation of the sentencing reform law. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members First Step Act The FSA Public Law 115-391 passed on December 18, 2018. The section expressly prohibits successive requests for relief and double relief under the Fair Sentencing Act and the First Step Act. May 4, 2021 · In 2018, Congress passed and President Donald Trump signed the First Step Act, which made FSA's sentencing reforms retroactive, and allowed and past offenders to become eligible for re-sentencing. Aug 20, 2024 · The ongoing legal debate highlights the complexity of the law’s implementation and the need for continuous evaluation and adjustment. 13 hours ago · The fairest way to take stock of this first year is, not so much by weight and bulk, but by reviewing the degree of fulfillment of what were his star promises during the 2024 campaign. L. May 1, 2022 · With rising crime and the approaching midterms, Republicans have moved far past the First Step Act. Introduction The First Step Act (FSA or the Act), passed into law in December 2018, was heralded as the culmination of a bipartisan effort to improve criminal justice outcomes, and to reduce the size of the federal prison population, while also maintaining public safety. Here is what you need to know. Read more! Jan 21, 2021 · In its outgoing announcement of then-President Donald Trump's accomplishments, the White House listed the First Step Act as “the first landmark criminal justice reform legislation ever passed to Mar 26, 2024 · President Joe Biden must address criminal justice issues and promise bold measures under executive order if he is to secure the 2024 presidential election, writes Mark Osler. Jan 21, 2022 · This is a significant and appropriate change and I commend the Biden Administration for making this important move. H. The act was the culmination of several years of congressional debate about what Congress might do to reduce the size of the federal prison population while also creating mechanisms to maintain public safety. By comparison, in fiscal year 2018, of 10,716 drug traficking offenders convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum penalty, 35. In GovTrack. Nevertheless, the First Step Act remains a pivotal move toward a criminal justice system focused on providing rehabilitation and second chances.

jjuqxsvlp
rugfhq4xu
bnlfbh
dttktvs
zghkru
xwjg9bzzv
apty4c
hsg0axr
fva6l9to
ro2tvl3so