The First Step Act The First Step Act is a bipartisan piece of criminal justice legislation signed into law in 2018, aiming to reduce crime while giving… citizens a chance at redemption. Sep 5, 2024 · The IRC is tasked with: Reviewing existing risk and needs assessment systems for incarcerated persons that were already in place in the Bureau of Prisons as of the First Step Act’s enactment. Prisoners who successfully complete recidivism reduction programming and productive activities can earn additional time credits that 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. 7 percent, compared to 46. 3K views 45:45 RRC and Home Confinement Explained 9-22-25 show Oct 28, 2025 · 1. Though it’s worth noting that these populations differ, this decrease is encouraging. ” The First Step Act (FSA) requires the Attorney General (AG) to develop a system for the Bureau of Prisons to assess the recidivism Apr 8, 2019 · “The Department of Justice is committed to implementing the First Step Act,” said Attorney General William Barr. Mar 15, 2024 · Dr. In the decision below, the Sixth Circuit held that these time credits cannot be used to 1 day ago · 󱡘 Federal Prison Authority / Around The Block Podcast 6h󰞋󱟠 󳄫 Rules Language and First Step Act Time Off Credits Explained Rules Language and First Step Act Time Off Credits Explained 󰍸 󰤦 1 Last viewed on: Jan 18, 2026 COMPELLING COMPASSION: NAVIGATING FEDERAL COMPASSIONATE RELEASE AFTER THE FIRST STEP ACT Abstract: Prior to the First Step Act, compassionate release was rarely utilized in the federal criminal justice system. Crimes Against Children Exclusion. 1K views 50:31 The Federal Time Credit Sheet Explained 9-8-25 show Oct 28, 2025 · 897 views 49:57 Aug 22, 2023 · Lower Recidivism: The recidivism rate among people who have benefitted from the First Step Act is considerably lower than those who were released from prison without benefit of the law. Warden of Fed Correctional Ins - This book recites in full the First Step Act Of 2018 (as reformatted and easier to read), the Second Chance Re-authorization Act Of 2018, and the Fair Sentencing Act Of 2010. 21, 2018 [S. Republican-led reforms, like Trump’s First Step Act, slash recidivism for participants to under 15%. 󱛼 federal prison release date calculation 󱛼 first step act release date 󱛼 bureau of prisons release date 󱛼 He qualifies for First Step Act and Good Time benefits. Jul 29, 2019 · The First Step Act has been criticized by its opponents for, among other things, failing to address sentencing reforms to reduce the number of people being sent to prison in the first place and only applying to the federal prison system. Walters and David Tell discuss criminal justice reform in the US, the goals of the First Step Act to reduce recidivism rates, and the preliminary challenges policymakers will face. § 3582(c)(1)(A). It will be updated periodically as the Commission continues its policy priority work in this area. [7] The United States Supreme Court has upheld the right of inmates to mental health treatment. A Reminder of the First Step Act’s Reforms The First Step Act included provisions that provided immediate relief to individuals serving time in federal prison. The First Step Act also expands the Second Chance Act. 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. Federal regulations regarding The FIRST STEP Act represents one of the most significant efforts to overhaul America’s criminal justice system in a generation, aiming to reduce crime by helping low-risk inmates prepare to successfully rejoin society through participation in proven recidivism reduction and professional development programs. Mar 4, 2019 · The act also contains a series of other criminal justice-related provisions. Mar 4, 2019 · The First Step Act requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to develop a risk and needs assessment system to be used by BOP to assess the recidivism risk of all federal prisoners and to place prisoners in programs and productive activities to reduce this risk. Under the First Step Act, you can earn time off your prison sentence by participating in programs and activities. The task that now lies before us is fin-ishing the j b we’ve started by elimin CYPHERT (DO NOT DELETE) 11/5/2020 2:44 PM Reprogramming Recidivism: The First Step Act and Algorithmic Prediction of Risk Amy B. First Step Act Approved Programs Guide The Federal Bureau of Prisons (Bureau) protects public safety by ensuring those in federal prison receive relevant and meaningful reentry programming to support their return to the community as law-abiding citizens. 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. 1 day ago · 48:42 The New First Step Act Calculator Video Explained 10 Oct 28, 2025 · 2. 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. The First Step Act required the Attorney General to develop, for use by the BOP, a recidivism risk instrument that would objectively assess an inmate’s current level of risk for becoming a repeat offender. If they successfully participate in these programs, they can earn time credits that will allow them to obtain an early release into prerelease custody. 115-391) was signed into law by the President on December 21, 2018. Reentry efforts increase opportunities, reduce recidivism, promote public saf Research has shown that mentally ill offenders have comparable rates of recidivism to non-mentally ill offenders. December 2024 First Step Act An Early Analysis of Recidivism Analysis by Avinash Bhati, PhD Passed in 2018, the First Step Act (FSA) was designed to reduce reoffending among people leaving federal prisons. First Step Act Approved Programs Guide The Approved Programs Guide is a collection of the Bureau's robust reentry programs, designed to ensure all sentenced inmates have the skills necessary to succeed upon release. FIRST STEP ACT OF 2018 Public Law 115–391 115th Congress An Act Dec. “The Independent Review Committee plays an important role in that effort by assisting in the development of a new risk and needs assessment system and improvements to our recidivism reduction programming. Upon input from law enforcement, the bill excludes prisoners from receiving time credits under the First Step Act who brandish or discharge firearms. Under Section 101 of the Act, now codified in 18 U. You can earn 15 days off your sentence for every 30 days of participation in “evidence-based recidivism reducing programs and productive activities. [2] As of 2016, the eight-year recidivism rate in federal prisons was 49. Whitehouse and Cornyn authored First Step provisions establishing recidivism reduction programs to allow qualifying inmates to receive reductions Mar 4, 2019 · These documents were prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). One of the provisions of the bill provides certain benefits for nonviolent offenders who complete recidivism reduction programs and maintain good behavior. Short title; table of contents. [10] A previous Council on Criminal Justice analysis, First Step Act: An Early Analysis of Recidivism, found that individuals released from Bureau of Prison (BOP) custody under the FSA had lower recidivism rates than similarly situated people who were released prior to the Act’s implementation. offenses. 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. 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. First Step Act The FSA Public Law 115-391 passed on December 18, 2018. Per the FSA, BOP developed guidance for wardens of prisons and community-based facilities to enter into recidivism-reducing partnerships with nonprofit and other private organizations, including faith-based and community-based organizations to deliver recidivism reduction programming. 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. Jan 12, 2026 · The First Step Act represents a significant overhaul of the criminal justice system, aiming to reduce recidivism and improve rehabilitation for federal inmates. The First Step credits are being applied month by month. The law: CYPHERT (DO NOT DELETE) 11/5/2020 2:44 PM Reprogramming Recidivism: The First Step Act and Algorithmic Prediction of Risk Amy B. Even though he’s already served 16 months, they said his First Step Act credits didn’t start counting until about 6 months ago when his recidivism score dropped to low. The number and type of recidivism reduction partnerships described in section 3621(h)(5) of title 18, United States Code, as added by section 102(a) of this Act, entered into by each facility. FAMM FirstStepFACTS v3 The First Step Act of 2018 (the “First Step Act” or “Act”) was signed into law on December 21, 2018. Reentry efforts increase opportunities, reduce recidivism, promote public saf Jun 23, 2020 · The First Step Act is intended to do two things: cut unnecessarily long federal sentences and improve conditions in federal prison. L. 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. Those who committed a felony with possession of a firearm are also excluded if they are repeat offenders who have already taken advantage of recidivism programming under the First Step Act. 101) This bill amends the federal criminal code to direct the Department of Justice to establish a risk and needs assessment system to assess and classify the recidivism risk of prisoners; to guide housing, grouping, and program assignments; and to incentivize and reward participation in and completion of recidivism reduction programs and Signed Into Law on December 21st, 2018 The First Step Act (P. Dec 20, 2018 · The First Step Act also incentivizes prisoners to participate in evidence-based programs designed to reduce recidivism. First Step Act An Early Analysis of Recidivism Analysis by Avinash Bhati, PhD Passed in 2018, the First Step Act (FSA) was designed to reduce reoffending among people leaving federal prisons. C. § 3634, the Attorney General is required to submit a report beginning two years after the date of Oct 17, 2021 · The First Step Act contains a number of criminal justice reforms aimed at reducing recidivism and improving conditions at federal prisons in the United States. While the Act represents a partial resurgence of the rehabilitative model of imprisonment, which had fallen out of favor decades before, it also represents a missed opportunity to fully integrate evidence-based rehabilitation programs for those offenders who pose the greatest risks to 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. While the Act represents a partial resurgence of the rehabilitative model of imprisonment, which had fallen out of favor decades before, it also represents a missed opportunity to fully integrate evidence-based rehabilitation programs for those offenders who pose the greatest Learn how the First Step Act aims to reduce overcrowding in federal prisons by allowing for sentence reductions for certain non-violent offenders and how it introduces a system for inmates to earn First Step Act The First Step Act of 2018 directed the federal Bureau of Prisons to: Create and test systems to assess’ AICs’ risk of recidivism (the tool since developed is called PATTERN) and program needs (now using an assessment platform called SPARC-13). Dec 30, 2024 · [1] The objectives of the First Step Act are to reform prison and sentencing practices as a means for reducing crime, recidivism rates, and the incarcerated population. One of the most consequential policies in recent years, the Reentry Success Act (RSA) of 2021, shifted the state’s approach to parole, supervision, and reintegration with measurable structural change (Tennessee General […] any additional funding necessary to fully implement the rehabilitative purpose of the First Step Act, ensure dedicated programming staff for all incarcerated persons, and address staffing shortages in all BOP facilities; and About the Analysis Passed in 2018, the First Step Act (FSA) was designed to reduce reoffending among people leaving federal prisons. 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 The First Step Act also expands the Second Chance Act. 18 U. CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. Mar 29, 2017 · (Sec. Mar 30, 2021 · FIRST STEP ACT Approved Programs Guide the community as law-abiding citizens. We discuss the FSA (First Step Act) classes and programs available at federal prisons, explain what inmates should do if they've passed their conditional release date, and introduce our gold, platinum, and concierge consulting plans at Federal Prison Tips. May 8, 2025 · ABSTRACT The First Step Act of 2018 (“FSA”) is the most impactful federal sentencing reform of the past 40 years. 101) This bill directs the Department of Justice (DOJ) to establish a risk and needs assessment system to evaluate the recidivism risk of prisoners; to guide housing, grouping, and program assignments; and to incentivize and reward participation in and completion of recidivism reduction programs and productive activities. May 7, 2018 · (Sec. (a) Short Title. 756] First Step Act of 2018. Hampton and Summer Daniels 󰍸 2 󰤦 17 󰤧 Early Release from Federal Prison/First Step Act Jones Donte󰞋Nov 18, 2024󰞋󱟠 󳄫 FSA and SCA my sons has been in 15 yrs his unit team put him in for his 385 FSA days plus 6 months of SCA and his recommended date came back to Nov 12 2024 ( last week ) but rrm didn't give him any May 29, 2025 · This directive builds on the success of the First Step Act, which has helped individuals return to their communities with a recidivism rate significantly lower than the national average. Upon the Act’s passage, the federal judiciary took a more significant role in assessing motions for compassionate release. Molly E. 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 FIRST STEP ACT Approved Programs Guide the community as law-abiding citizens. Apr 1, 2022 · Since the federal First Step Act (FSA) of 2018, legislation intended to improve criminal justice outcomes for federal offenders, requires an annual report on the progress of FSA’s implementation and impact, this is the second FSA Annual Report, published in April 2022. we then 3 days ago · The signature accomplishment widely credited to Trump on criminal-justice reform was signing the First Step Act in December 2018, a bipartisan package that shortened some federal sentences, expanded judicial “safety valve” discretion, and created programs intended to reduce recidivism — changes explicitly designed to shrink the federal Federal Prison FSA Planning & Post-Conviction Relief Services. Developing recommendations regarding evidence-based recidivism reduction programs and productive activities. What kinds of 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. 3 days ago · Section 3582(c)(1)(A), as amended by the First Step Act of 2018, allows district courts to consider and decide motions seeking what is commonly called “compassionate release. Consistent with existing law, a judge cannot apply the safety valve unless the defendant has fully cooperated with law enforcement and has not used or threatened to use violence or firearms, caused death or serious bodily injury, or was an organizer, leader, manager, or su John P. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress. [8][9] The majority of prisons in the United States attempt to employ a mental health providers. Provisions of the FSA are summarized in a Congressional Research Service brief. Jul 19, 2019 · Third, as called for by the First Step Act, we are today announcing a new risk and needs assessment system designed to assess inmates’ risks of recidivism and to identify their individualized needs to reduce their risks of re-offending. Obstacles and Legal Debate 6 days ago · NIEMEYER, Circuit Judge: As a federal prisoner, William White is entitled to jail-time credits under the First Step Act of 2018 (FSA) for participating in specified programming administered by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and designed to reduce his risk of recidivism. All of the major United States Code provisions enumerated within the body of the First Step Act Of 2018 are recited in full as amended in 2019, and are current law. Mar 24, 2023 · For individuals with a medium to high risk of recidivism “must satisfy certain First Step Act requirements and petition the warden to transfer to prerelease custody or supervised release and have the petition approved to apply earned First Step Act time credits,” stated GAO. 21 hours ago · Tennessee’s criminal justice reform conversation has often been loud on punishment but quieter on what actually works to reduce recidivism and improve public safety. Depending on the yard the staff determines if hell go straight to home confinement in CA they are making you go to halfway first then boot out. [3] The First Step Act (FSA) Approved Programs Guide is a collection of the Bureau’s robust reentry programs, designed to ensure all sentenced inmates have the skills necessary to succeed upon release. Historical Betrayal Fuels Crisis Flash back: Nixon’s Republicans cracked down on crime in the 1970s, dropping rates. One of the primary benefits of the First Step Act is the focus on rehabilitation to reduce recidivism. The act enacted several changes in U. 2K views 50:32 The BOP Designation Process Explained 9-29-25 show Oct 28, 2025 · 1. Then, we hone in on the innovations of the First Step Act, both in relying upon algorithms and AI to predict future dangerousness and in to encourage of recidivism. The approved programs are standardized across institutions, described in the Bureau's national policies, implemented with dedicated resources, and regularly reviewed to ensure Jan 14, 2022 · Washington, DC – Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and John Cornyn (R-TX) applauded the federal Bureau of Prisons’ final rule implementing the prison reform measures of the senators’ landmark criminal justice reform bill, the First Step Act. Cyphert The First Step Act, a seemingly miraculous bipartisan criminal justice reform bill, was signed into law in late 2018. 1The Act con-tains numerous provisions relating to sentencing, prison programming, recidivism reduction efforts, and reentry procedures. The First Step Act also expands the Second Chance Act. However, when making a determination of time-credit eligibility the official source (FSA Law, Section 101, Subsection 3632 (d) (4) (D) Ineligible Prisoners Nov 15, 2018 · Prior to releasing the risk and needs assessment system, in consultation with the Independent Review Committee created by this Act, the Attorney General shall review the effectiveness of evidence-based recidivism reduction programs that exist in prisons operated by the Bureau of Prisons, review such programs that exist in State-operated prisons What Are the General Benefits of the First Step Act? One of the main benefits of the First Step Act is its focus on rehabilitation. S. Oct 21, 2025 · The First Step Act was designed to reduce recidivism by giving people reasons to participate in rehabilitation and by helping them reenter society with structure and support. rt I, we trace Congress’s vacillations over the determinate and indeterminate sentencing systems. Jan 12, 2026 · Conservatives champion compassion through real protection. We provide those items below in a user-friendly table for quick reference. This analysis estimates recidivism rates among individuals released from federal prison prior to the FSA who had similar risk profiles and were tracked for similar periods of time as those released under the Act. 2 days ago · First Step Act Time Credits Require Actual Participation; No Due Process Liberty Interest in Earning Credits During Non-Program Periods Case: William White v. The Act encourages inmates to participate in programs that reduce their likelihood of re-offense upon release. § 3632(a)(6). Currently, his release date shows as March 18, 2026, but his case manager said that once all the credits are applied, his new release date should be around November 18, 2025. plication of the Fair Sentencing Act has worked as intended. A Council on Criminal Justice analysis, First Step Act: An Early Analysis of Recidivism, found that individuals released from Bureau of Prison (BOP) custody under the FSA had lower recidivism rates than similarly situated people who were released prior to the act’s implementation. To reauthorize and amend the Marine Debris Act to promote international action to reduce marine debris, and for other purposes. ” 18 U. The First Step Act (FSA) is a law, signed on December 21, 2018, with provisions that impact Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) inmates and their families. Avinash Bhati, a data scientist who has developed and validated many pretrial and post-adjudication risk assessment tools, analyzed the recidivism data for the “First Step Act, An Early Analysis of Recidivism,” which was published in August 2023. ). 2 percent for all people released from Bureau of Prisons facilities in 2018. nt’s criminal history and danger of recidivism. Mar 21, 2025 · The First Step Act And The Cost Of Redundant State Regulations The FSA, signed into law in 2018, was designed to reduce recidivism and support reintegration. Introduction The First Step Act of 2018 (“First Step Act,” “FSA,” or “Act”) was significant bipartisan legislation to improve criminal justice outcomes and reduce the size of the federal prison population, while maintaining public safety. 18 USC 1 note. 1 The Act contains numerous provisions relating to sentencing, prison programming, recidivism reduction efforts, and reentry procedures. Nov 15, 2018 · Those who committed a felony with possession of a firearm are also excluded if they are repeat offenders who have already taken advantage of recidivism programming under the First Step Act. Dec 11, 2024 · This toolkit provides a collection of publicly available resources on First Step Act Earned Time Credits. People released under the First Step Act (FSA) are estimated to have lower recidivism rates and fewer arrests than similarly situated people released from federal prison prior to the Act’s implementation, according to a new analysis released today by the Council on Criminal Justice. The law aims to produce lower odds of recidivism by incentivizing incarcerated individuals to engage in rigorous, evidence-based rehabilitation and education programming. Mar 20, 2023 · The First Step Act included certain requirements for DOJ and BOP aimed to reduce recidivism, including requiring the development of a system to assess the recidivism risk and needs of incarcerated people. § 3632(d)(4)(C); see also id. May 16, 2024 · The First Step Act of 2018 (“FSA”) is the most impactful federal sentencing reform of the past 40 years. Under the First Step Act (FSA), an inmate is ineligible to receive time credits if they are serving a sentence for a conviction under certain provisions of law. Jan 8, 2026 · QUESTION PRESENTED Under the First Step Act, eligible individuals who successfully complete qualifying programs or activities are rewarded with “time credits,” which can “be applied toward time in prerelease custody or supervised release. Federal regulations regarding First Step Act The FSA Public Law 115-391 passed on December 18, 2018. 3%. Under Section 101 of the Act, 18 U. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. We share our track record of helping over 935 federal inmates and guarantee Now he will get 10 or 15 days of depending on if his recidivism is a low which at 24 months I assume he is . Aug 6, 2024 · The report explores the implementation of the First Step Act and provides detailed data on recidivism among the law’s beneficiaries. federal criminal law aimed at reforming federal prisons and sentencing laws in order to reduce Aug 20, 2024 · With over 44,000 people released under the First Step Act, the recidivism rate for this group stands at 9. Last year, the De-partment of Justice reported that the recidivism rate for those re-leased under the First Step Act was actual orts of reform have been bipar-tisan, and they’re working. The FSA requires BOP to develop guidance for wardens of prisons and community-based facilities to enter into recidivism-reducing partnerships with nonprofit and other private organizations, including faith-based and community-based organizations to deliver recidivism reduction programming. ” §924(c)(1)(C)(i) (2006 ed. § 3634, the Attorney General is required to submit a report beginning two years Aug 31, 2020 · Introduction The First Step Act of 2018 (the “First Step Act” or “Act”) was signed into law on December 21, 2018. . ” Before a district court can consider a First Step Act motion, an inmate must satisfy a statutory exhaustion requirement. Congress and signed by President Donald Trump in December 2018. About 87 percent of all prisoners are held in state facilities. —This Act may be cited as the “Formerly Incarcerated Reenter Society Transformed Safely Transitioning Every Person Act” or the “FIRST STEP Act”. Before the First Step Act, §924(c) also contained a recidivism enhance-ment that required imposition of an additional 25 years of imprisonment (on top of the 5-year mandatory minimum) for any “second or subsequent conviction under this subsec-tion. Introduction The First Step Act of 2018 (“First Step Act,” “FSA,” or “Act”) was the culmination of a bipartisan effort to improve criminal justice outcomes and reduce the size of the federal prison population, while maintaining public safety. Sep 25, 2025 · On December 21, 2018, President Trump signed into law the First Step Act (FSA) to improve criminal justice outcomes and reduce the size of the federal prison population while maintaining public safety. Democrats’ bail reforms? They fuel chaos. Overview of the First Step Act: Signed into law in 2018, this criminal justice reform aims to improve federal prison conditions, reduce sentences for certain offenses, and introduce a risk assessment system to reduce recidivism. Jan 18, 2019 · Reliable assessment of the First Step Act’s recidivism reduction and prisoner population effects may well require significantly more aggressive data collection and dissemination efforts from BJS and other relevant federal agencies. The First Step Act requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to develop a risk and needs assessment system to be used by BOP to assess the recidivism risk of all federal prisoners and to place prisoners in programs and productive activities to reduce this risk. ” But which programs and activities actually qualify? So far, the answer to that question isn’t entirely clear.

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