The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has issued a policy memorandum to fully implement the First Step Act of 2018 and the Second Chance Act of 2008. These acts are significant elements of modern criminal justice reform, aiming to enhance integrity and fiscal responsibility within the federal prison system.
"This is the dawn of a new era, one in which the Bureau of Prisons will realize the full potential of the First Step Act and Second Chance Act," said BOP Director William K. Marshall III. He explained that the comprehensive policy aims to remove barriers and maximize home confinement availability for those eligible under these acts. The intention is to operationalize these laws as Congress intended, facilitating smoother transitions for individuals returning to society after incarceration.
The newly announced policy is expected to have immediate benefits, including avoiding unnecessary incarceration costs, reducing strain on prison resources, and easing burdens on inmates and their families. Key aspects include treating FSA Earned Time Credits and SCA eligibility as cumulative, ensuring timely referrals based on credit accrual rather than bureaucratic delays, prioritizing stable housing over past employment for placement decisions, and not letting RRC bed capacity limitations hinder home confinement eligibility.
Director Marshall emphasized that this move represents a shift from previous inaction towards a policy focused on public safety, fiscal responsibility, and second chances. "By empowering the agency to release more people who are ready to return to society, we not only save taxpayer dollars, we strengthen families, ease overcrowding, and build safer communities," he said.
Information from this article can be found here.
