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Sentencing Law and Policy
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“U.S. Sentencing Commission Launches Interactive Resources to Illustrate Federal Prison Program Implementation”

By Douglas Berman

The title of this post was the heading of an email I received this morning from the US Sentencing Commission, which came with this text and links:

The U.S. Sentencing Commission has released its second of two interactive resources providing an overview of certain Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) programs. These resources are aimed at policymakers, stakeholders, and the public who are interested in learning how the BOP administers the Residential Drug Abuse Treatment Program and implements the First Step Act of 2018’s earned time credits system.

Today’s new resource illustrates the Residential Drug Abuse Treatment Program (RDAP), an intensive cognitive behavioral therapy program offered in some BOP facilities. It describes how RDAP participants may be eligible for and earn up to one year off their terms of imprisonment. Additionally, the resource features an interactive map of RDAP locations and program types.

Launched in January, the Commission’s first interactive BOP resource describes the implementation of the earned time credits system under the First Step Act. It outlines how incarcerated individuals may earn and apply time credits for engaging in recidivism reduction programming or productive activities. The resource also includes a glossary of terms and searchable table of offenses that prevent individuals from earning time credits under the First Step Act.

Last amendment cycle, the Commission prioritized assessing the degree to which certain practices of the BOP are effective in meeting the purposes of sentencing as set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(2). Both resources were published as part of this policy work. They are based on primary source documents from other government agencies, including the BOP, and are intended for informational purposes only (not as legal analysis).

Kudos to the USSC for continuing to provide (“for informational purposes only”) these terrific and valuable resources.

UPDATE:  I just saw this new Forbes piece discussing the new USSC resources, headlined “US Sentencing Comm Launches Overview Of Bureau Of Prisons Programs”