First Step Act
The First Step Act is a federal criminal justice reform law signed in 2018 that made significant changes to federal sentencing and prison policies. Key provisions include increasing good time credits from 47 to 54 days per year, creating earned time credit programs for program participation, and expanding eligibility for elderly and terminally ill inmate compassionate release. The law affects federal inmates only and does not apply to state prisons.
What Is First Step Act?
The First Step Act was a bipartisan criminal justice reform that passed Congress in 2018 and was signed into law. For federal inmates and their families, the most significant impact is the increase in good time credits which reduces time served for eligible inmates.
Beyond good time credits, the First Step Act created Earned Time Credits where federal inmates can earn additional reductions by participating in approved programming and productive activities. These credits can be used toward early placement in a halfway house or on home confinement.
Related Terms
Explore other glossary terms that are closely connected to this topic.
Good Time Credit
Good time credit is a reduction in the length of a prison sentence earned by an inmate for good behavior and program participation. In the federal system, inmates can earn up to 54 days of good time credit per year of sentence imposed under the First Step Act. Good time credits accumulate over the sentence and reduce the projected release date. State good time credit policies vary significantly.
AdministrationRelease Date
A release date is the date on which an incarcerated person is scheduled to be released from custody. Release dates can be projected (estimated) or confirmed based on sentence calculations, good time credits, and parole decisions. Federal inmate release dates are publicly available through the BOP inmate locator at bop.gov. State inmate release information varies by state and may be found through the state DOC offender search.
AdministrationBOP
BOP stands for Bureau of Prisons, which is the federal agency that operates all federal correctional facilities in the United States.
Facility TypesHalfway House
A halfway house, also called a Residential Reentry Center (RRC), is a transitional facility where people are placed toward the end of their prison sentence to help them reintegrate into the community.
People Also Ask
Related questions families often search for alongside this topic.
What is Good Time Credit?
Good time credit is a reduction in the length of a prison sentence earned by an inmate for good behavior and program participation. In the federal system, inmates can earn up to 54 days of good time credit per year of sentence imposed under the First Step Act. Good time credits accumulate over the sentence and reduce the projected release date. State good time credit policies vary significantly.
Read full definitionWhat is Release Date?
A release date is the date on which an incarcerated person is scheduled to be released from custody. Release dates can be projected (estimated) or confirmed based on sentence calculations, good time credits, and parole decisions. Federal inmate release dates are publicly available through the BOP inmate locator at bop.gov. State inmate release information varies by state and may be found through the state DOC offender search.
Read full definitionWhat is BOP?
BOP stands for Bureau of Prisons, which is the federal agency that operates all federal correctional facilities in the United States.
Read full definitionWhat is Halfway House?
A halfway house, also called a Residential Reentry Center (RRC), is a transitional facility where people are placed toward the end of their prison sentence to help them reintegrate into the community.
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