Penmate Inmate Support Guides

If Your Loved One Is Placed in Disciplinary Segregation: What It Means for First Step Act Benefits at USP Thomson

• 3 min read • bop.gov
If Your Loved One Is Placed in Disciplinary Segregation: What It Means for First Step Act Benefits at USP Thomson

Here's the key rule: if your loved one is placed in disciplinary segregation, their FSA opt-in status automatically resumes once they're released from segregation. Segregation doesn't permanently disqualify them from the program.

What matters is their opt-in or opt-out status at any given time. Someone in opt-out status can't earn FSA Time Credits (FTCs) or receive other FSA benefits until they opt back in.

If Your Loved One Is Placed in Disciplinary Segregation: What It Means for First Step Act Benefits at USP Thomson

The biggest concern for most families is time credits. Earning FSA Time Credits pauses during any opt-out period. But if your loved one was only placed in disciplinary segregation - and didn't separately opt out - their opt-in status should automatically resume when they leave segregation. The pause shouldn't be permanent.

Note: FTC earning pauses during opt-out periods, but opt-in status automatically resumes once someone leaves disciplinary segregation. At USP Thomson, opt-in status also affects incentives like additional monthly phone minutes - so it's worth confirming where things stand.

  • ✓ Completing Evidence-Based Recidivism Reduction (EBRR) programs can lead to consideration for a nearer release transfer at USP Thomson.
  • ✓ Completing EBRRs that are 100 hours or longer can earn a financial achievement award or preferred housing.
  • ✓ Completing EBRRs under 100 hours may allow participation in institution incentive events.
  1. Ask the unit team what their current FSA status is - specifically whether they are showing as opt-in or opt-out, since opt-out status means future FSA benefits and privileges (including earning FTCs) are off the table until they opt in again.
  2. Ask how segregation affects programming access right now - if EBRR participation or completion is possible, it can matter at USP Thomson because EBRR completion is tied to incentives like nearer release transfer consideration and other awards.
  3. Keep a simple record of what you’re told - write down dates, names/titles, and the exact wording you’re given about opt-in/opt-out and programming, so you can follow up consistently if answers change.

For general questions about the First Step Act or the FSA Guide (not case-specific status questions), you can email the BOP Reentry Services Division at FSA@BOP.GOV.

4

  • ✓ Is my loved one currently showing as opt-in or opt-out, and if they’re in disciplinary segregation, will opt-in automatically resume when they’re removed?
  • ✓ If they are (or were) in opt-out status, when did the FTC earning pause, and when should it restart?
  • ✓ What EBRR programming can they access right now, and what steps are needed to get them back into EBRR participation so they can remain eligible for Thomson incentives tied to EBRR completion?

Reminder: The BOP's baseline rule says opt-in status should automatically resume after disciplinary segregation. But the unit team is the right place to ask how this applies to your loved one's specific situation.

Find an Inmate at USP Thomson

Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.

Exact spelling helps find results faster

Free to search · Used by families nationwide
Woman using phone to connect with loved one

More from USP Thomson

How Federal Prison Phone Calls Work: monitoring, time limits, who pays, and prohibited call types

Federal prison phone calls come with rules that can catch families off guard. Here's what BOP policy says about monitoring, time limits, who pays, and which call types aren't allowed.

How First Step Act Time Credits (FTCs) Work — for families of people at USP Thomson

First Step Act Time Credits - usually called FTCs - let someone earn credits they can use to move into prerelease custody sooner (like home confinement) or, in some cases, shorten the supervised-release portion of their sentence. There's one important cap: even when someone qualifies to apply FTCs toward supervised release, the maximum is 365 days.

Phone & Messaging

How to Contact an Inmate at Facility

Staying in touch matters, and this facility does allow phone contact. A few rules around call routing, monitoring, and time limits will shape what you're able to do.