First step act. 21, 2018 [S. us, a database of bills in the U. This page provides an overview of how the Act affects reductions in recidivism, incentives for success, confinement, correctional reforms, sentencing reforms, and oversight. This update was brokered by the White House and a bipartisan group of lawmakers in both chambers of Congress. 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. 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. The First Step Act earned time credits is a way for federal inmates to secure an early release from the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Nov 26, 2024 · Explore the key provisions of the First Step Act, the reasons behind delays in inmate releases, and actionable steps inmates and their families can take to expedite cases and advocate for halfway house placement. federal law that reforms the criminal justice system by reducing sentences, expanding rehabilitation programs, and improving prison conditions. FIRST STEP ACT OF 2018 Public Law 115–391 115th Congress An Act Dec. Aug 22, 2023 · In 2018, Congress passed and then-President Donald Trump signed into law the bipartisan First Step Act, a sweeping criminal justice reform bill designed to promote rehabilitation, lower recidivism, and reduce excessive sentences in the federal prison system. Feb 1, 2025 · Abstract. 2795 (115th). 756] First Step Act of 2018. [S. Why haven't they done more? Aug 22, 2023 · In 2018, Congress passed and then-President Donald Trump signed into law the bipartisan First Step Act, a sweeping criminal justice reform bill designed to promote rehabilitation, lower recidivism, and reduce excessive sentences in the federal prison system. ” On the day after it passed in the Senate, Grassley called it “a good day for representative government,” “[a] good day for the taxpayer,” “[a]nd a good day for safe streets and strong families. 110-199). Congress. Dec 19, 2023 · The First Step Act expanded options for compassionate release, including for the elderly and the seriously ill. federal criminal law aimed at reforming federal prisons and sentencing laws in order to reduce The First Step Act of 2018 is a federal law that Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) labeled “once-in-a-generation criminal justice reform. Aug 1, 2025 · Rick Stover, Senior Deputy Assistant Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Designation and Sentence Computation Center (DSCC), says that the BOP’s new First Step Act task force has begun evaluating prisoners now in halfway houses who could be transferred to home confinement if they were to receive the full benefit of “stacking 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. The First Step Act has been one of the most significant prison reforms in our generation. The act was the culmination of a bi-partisan effort to improve criminal justice outcomes, as well as to reduce the size of the federal prison population while also creating mechanisms to maintain public safety. The act enacted several changes in U. United States, in which the court granted review on July 2. Overview of the First Step Act The First Step Act (FSA) is one of the most significant criminal justice reforms in recent U. S. Dec 12, 2018 · WASHINGTON – A bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers today released revised text of the First Step Act to continue building support for criminal justice reform. ” The First Step Act (FSA) requires the Attorney General (AG) to develop a system for the Bureau of Prisons to assess the recidivism risk and criminogenic needs of all federal prisoners Fentanyl and Heroin Exclusion. 2795 and H. Oct 7, 2024 · To date, the BOP has limited the use of this provision. 33, No. Trump, stands as a landmark achievement in federal criminal justice reform. The section expressly prohibits successive requests for relief and double relief under the Fair Sentencing Act and the First Step Act. Since then, the bureau has made significant strides implementing many of the statute Mar 16, 2025 · The First Step Act is a federal law aimed at criminal justice reform, focusing on reducing recidivism, sentencing reform, and inmate rehabilitation. This bill became the vehicle for passage of the FIRST Step Act, the Senate's criminal justice reform bill. Firearm Offense Exclusion. Jul 26, 2024 · United States and Duffey v. Find out if you qualify for its benefits. 144-147 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. L. 18 USC 1 note. S. The First Step Act is significant legislation that affects BOP inmates and their families. To this end, the Bureau Jan 23, 2024 · The FIRST STEP ACT reduces the number of federal prisoners and improves conditions for those incarcerated. Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of the First Step Act of 2018 the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a review of all of the grant awards made under this title and amendments made by this title that includes— Jul 14, 2024 · The First Step ActThe 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. Apr 22, 2019 · The First Step Act provides a second chance to federal inmates, especially those convicted of non-violent drug offenses. The earned credits can be applied toward earlier placement in pre-release custody, such as RRCs and HC. Jan 8, 2019 · In 2018, President Trump signed the FIRST STEP Act into law, but what is the FIRST STEP Act? And how will it affect America's incarcerated population? 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. Dec 19, 2018 · The First Step Act takes lessons from history and from states – our laboratories of democracy – to reduce crime, save taxpayer dollars and strengthen faith and fairness in our criminal justice system. Oct 5, 2024 · The Bureau of Prisons has had difficulty implementing the First Step Act. Feb 27, 2025 · The First Step Act of 2018 is a U. Those provisions were originally introduced in S. This act reauthorizes appropriations for and expands the scope of some grant programs that were initially authorized under the Second Chance Act of 2007 (P. The text of this bill was replaced in whole on December 18, 2018 with criminal justice reform provisions. Reentry efforts increase opportunities, reduce recidivism, promote public safety, and reduce institution misconduct. 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. Jun 26, 2025 · Before the First Step Act was enacted in 2018, federal judges were required to sentence certain first-time offenders convicted of violating 18 U. 15, 2018. Mar 21, 2025 · The First Step Act allowed low-risk federal prisoners to earn time credits they could use at the end of their prison sentences in either a halfway house or at home on electronic monitoring. history. 115-391). As one of the earliest former major county sheriffs to support this legislation, I viewed it not as a political compromise, but as a pragmatic shift toward smarter crimi… 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. §924 (c)—a law that criminalizes the possession of a firearm while committing other crimes—to “stacked” 25-year periods of incarceration. 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. 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. 954-740-2253 FIRST STEP ACT OF 2018 Public Law 115–391 115th Congress An Act Dec. Recent changes provide a bit more clarity but issues remain. December 2024 marked the sixth anniversary of the First Step Act (FSA), the most significant federal criminal justice legislation enacted in decades. 5682. “I was proud to champion this landmark legislation with my friend and colleague, Senator Grassley. It was signed into law by President Donald Trump on December 21, 2018, and signaled positive changes to the federal prison system, mainly the FSA-earned time credits. 3649 (115th). ” Jun 1, 2024 · The Trump-era First Step Act has allowed thousands of nonviolent federal offenders to earn shortened prison time, but advocates say they have reviewed numerous instances of inmates staying in Dec 3, 2020 · The First Step Act - Constitutionalizing Prison Release Policies • Locations: United States of America • Topics: First Step Act Dec 20, 2018 · Q: What is the First Step Act? A: The bipartisan First Step Act restructures federal criminal sentencing laws for the first time in decades. 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. 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. Prisoners believe that they should get a reduction in sentence under First Step Act, additional time in home confinement and up to a year under the Second Chance Act for placement in halfway house. Jan 13, 2022 · The First Step Act of 2018 provides eligible inmates the opportunity to earn 10 to 15 days of time credits for every 30 days of successful participation in Evidence Based Recidivism Reduction Programs and Productive Activities. To this end, the Bureau JULIE ZIBULSKY, CHRISTINE KITCHENS, The First Step Act of 2018, Federal Sentencing Reporter, Vol. Jul 29, 2025 · The Bureau of Prisons has the ability to reduce its institutional population by fully implementing the First Step Act. Learn more. 1/2, Assessing Priorities in Times of Tumult (October/December 2020), pp. Learn more at FindLaw's section on Sentencing. A bill to provide for programs to help reduce the risk that prisoners will recidivate upon release from prison, and for other purposes. After years of listening, negotiating and reviewing reforms enacted at the state level, a broad coalition of lawmakers joined together with the White House to secure passage of the historic First Step Act. In GovTrack. Jan 24, 2025 · May 7, 2018. Mar 4, 2019 · The First Step Act contains the Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2018. Why haven't they done more? Aug 1, 2025 · Rick Stover, Senior Deputy Assistant Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Designation and Sentence Computation Center (DSCC), says that the BOP’s new First Step Act task force has begun evaluating prisoners now in halfway houses who could be transferred to home confinement if they were to receive the full benefit of “stacking 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. Not to diminish FSA’s “front-end” changes, the weight of the landmark legislation fell squarely (and heavily) on the federal Bureau of Prisons. Although it agreed with the defendants that the lower court’s interpretation of the First Step Act was “incorrect,” the federal government had nonetheless urged the Supreme Court to deny both cases. Signed into law by President Donald Trump on December 21, 2018, it focuses on 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. The act was the culmination of a bi-partisan effort to improve criminal justice outcomes, as well as to reduce the size of the federal prison population while also creating mechanisms to maintain public safety. . Jun 30, 2025 · Nov. C. First Step Act Sentencing Provisions Reduces certain enhanced mandatory minimum penalties for some drug offenders (Section 401) 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 is intended to do two things: cut unnecessarily long federal sentences and improve conditions in federal prison. Jun 23, 2020 · While much of the law is operating as intended, a secret change is keeping more people in federal prison during the pandemic. Prior to becoming the vehicle for passage of criminal justice reform, this bill was the Save Our Seas Act of 2018. 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. 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. Congress and signed by President Donald Trump in December 2018. R. 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. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker Paul Ryan have pledged to take up the revised package before the end of the Jun 19, 2025 · The First Step Act (FSA), signed into law in 2018 under President Donald J. To reauthorize and amend the Marine Debris Act to promote international action to reduce marine debris, and for other purposes. wjek aacrjp khrhuwg wnidryq vga tzyksu tjdp brzlyf xqb dpsj