BOP to Revise FSA Credit System

After years of dragging its proverbial feet in implementing the mandates of the First Step Act, the Federal Bureau of Prisons has created an incentive for inmate program participation. As an incentive for programming, all individuals participating in First Step Act (FSA) Evidence-Based Recidivism Reduction (EBRR) programs, regardless of their FSA earned time credit eligibility, will receive 300 free phone minutes each month. Next Effective January 1, 2025 The Bureau will revise its system for notifying inmates of their Earned Time Credits. Inmates will now see three key dates in their records to help them plan their release:

• FTC Conditional Placement Date: The date when an AIC may be eligible for pre-release placement based on earned FSA Time Credits.
  
  
• Second Chance Act (SCA) Conditional Placement Date: The date when an AIC may be eligible for release under the SCA. SCA eligibility requires an individualized assessment and is not guaranteed.
  
  
• Conditional Transition to Community Date The earliest possible release date, based on a combination of FTCs and SCA eligibility.

Bureau of Prisons staff will use these dates to make release decisions, beginning the process 17-19 months before the Conditional Transition to Community Date. For eligible individuals, this could include recommendations for direct home confinement, bypassing RRC placement where appropriate.

Of course, if you have any questions or issues with First Step Act credits or implementation feel free to call us at 615-696-6153 or contact us at www.nationalprisonconsultants....