Bureau of Prisons Announces Updates to First Step Act Calculations

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) recently announced important updates regarding prisoner sentence computations under the First Step Act, aimed at providing clearer release date calculations. Under this act, inmates earn 54 days of Good Conduct Time for every year served. For instance, a two-year sentence would yield 108 days off, while a three-year sentence would provide 162 days off. Additionally, inmates can earn credits for participating in programs—up to 15 days for every 30 days—which adds complexity to release date projections.

Historically, prisoners were required to serve 85% of their sentences, but the First Step Act introduced the possibility of earning up to one year off a sentence through programming. Unfortunately, the BOP has faced challenges implementing these calculations, often leading to confusion regarding release dates for inmates and their case managers. However, recent improvements promise clearer communication regarding the updated release dates.

The BOP’s announcement includes new date calculations:

• FTC Conditional Placement Date: When an inmate may be eligible for pre-release placement based on earned First Step Act Time Credits.
• Second Chance Act (SCA) Conditional Placement Date: The date when an inmate may be eligible for release under the SCA.
• Conditional Transition to Community Date: The earliest possible release date based on a combination of FTCs and SCA eligibility.

If you , or a loved one need help with a federal sentencing past or upcoming, please contact Laguzzi Law, P.C. for help.