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Understanding First Step Act Time Credits: What Families Need to Know

• 2 min read • bop.gov
Understanding First Step Act Time Credits: What Families Need to Know

First Step Act (FSA) time credits are tied to the Bureau of Prisons’ reentry programming - approved Evidence-Based Recidivism Reduction (EBRR) Programs and Productive Activities that are meant to help people return to the community. This framework applies across the federal system, including for people housed at FPC Alderson.

At the most basic level, FSA time credits apply only to people convicted in Federal District Court. That includes many people housed at FPC Alderson, but it does not extend to people whose convictions come from other jurisdictions.

Even if your loved one is in federal custody, eligibility can hinge on their conviction record. According to BOP guidance, someone may not earn FSA time credits if they have a current or prior disqualifying conviction. If you're planning around a release timeline, confirm this early - it determines whether credits can be earned at all.

Understanding First Step Act Time Credits: What Families Need to Know

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  • ✓ Military prisoners
  • ✓ State boarders
  • ✓ People convicted in DC Superior Court
  • ✓ People with a final order of deportation

Have questions about First Step Act programs or whether someone qualifies for time credits? Contact the Bureau's Reentry Services Division at BOP-RSD-NRB-FSA@BOP.GOV.

Practical tip: Don't count on time credits until you've verified eligibility. Disqualifying convictions can block someone from earning credits entirely. For a clear answer about programs or eligibility, email BOP-RSD-NRB-FSA@BOP.GOV.

Program delivery follows national protocols, which keeps the First Step Act framework consistent across the BOP - including at FPC Alderson. Some EBRR programs, like Anger Management, are listed as available at all institutions. That said, what's actually running at any given time depends on staffing and local capacity.

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Does Your Loved One Qualify for First Step Time Credits? A Checklist

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What Programs at FPC Alderson Award Time Credits Under the First Step Act?

The First Step Act lets people earn time credits by completing certain Evidence-Based Recidivism Reduction (EBRR) programs. At FPC Alderson, some programs are facility-specific - like Assert Yourself for Female Offenders - while others are Bureau-wide offerings available at all BOP institutions, including Anger Management and Basic Cognitive Skills. The bottom line: if your loved one enrolls in and completes an eligible EBRR program, those hours may count toward time credits.