Why your loved one’s release date at FCI Petersburg Med (in the BOP locator) might not be current

If you're checking the BOP inmate locator for someone at FCI Petersburg Med and the release date doesn't match what you've heard, you're not alone. The BOP has acknowledged that sentences are being reviewed and recalculated due to the First Step Act and pending federal time credit changes. While that process is underway, the date shown online may not reflect what's actually being worked out - and it can shift earlier or later once the review is complete.

One thing to keep in mind: the BOP inmate locator covers federal inmates incarcerated from 1982 to the present. It's useful for tracking someone in federal custody, but what you see is still a snapshot - especially when release dates are actively being recalculated.

The First Step Act (Public Law 115-391) was enacted on December 18, 2018, and it's a big reason release dates can shift. The BOP has stated that sentences are being reviewed and recalculated under this law to address pending Federal Time Credit changes. That review process is why the locator's release date isn't always current - updates get posted after the recalculation work is finished and entered into the system.

Practical Advice

• ✓ Check the BOP inmate locator periodically; the BOP specifically advises visitors to keep checking back because changes can occur as reviews and recalculations are made.
• ✓ Treat the release date you see online as “subject to update,” especially if you’re close to an expected release window.
• ✓ If the locator shows “Released” or “Not in BOP Custody” and there’s no facility listed, that means the person is no longer in BOP custody - but they may still be in custody of another correctional/criminal justice or law enforcement entity, or they may be on parole or supervised release.