Free tool
First Step Act (FSA) Credit Calculator
Estimate the Federal Time Credits (FTCs) an eligible BOP inmate can earn under the First Step Act of 2018 based on PATTERN recidivism risk and months of successful participation in EBRR programs or Productive Activities.
Quick answer: 10–15 days of credit per 30 days of programming.
Eligible inmates earn 10 days of FTC for every 30 days of successful program participation. Those assessed at Minimum or Low PATTERN risk on two consecutive reviews earn an additional 5 days, for 15 days per 30 days. Credits can shift release to halfway house, home confinement, or supervised release — up to 12 months earlier when applied to supervised release under 18 U.S.C. § 3624(g).
Calculate your estimated FTCs
Estimated result
540 days (18 months) of FTCs
At Minimum/Low PATTERN risk (two consecutive assessments), you earn 15 days per 30 days of programming and can apply credits toward prerelease custody or supervised release.
Educational estimate only. Official calculations are performed by the BOP and subject to eligibility, program availability, disciplinary sanctions, and PATTERN reassessments.
How FSA credits are earned
Under 18 U.S.C. § 3632(d)(4), the BOP awards Federal Time Credits to eligible inmates who successfully participate in Evidence-Based Recidivism Reduction programs (EBRRs) or Productive Activities (PAs). Programming ranges from cognitive behavioral therapy and drug treatment (RDAP) to vocational training, education (GED, ACE classes), faith-based programming, and UNICOR work assignments. Credits accrue at 10 days per 30 days of successful participation, or 15 days per 30 days if PATTERN classifies the inmate as Minimum or Low risk on two consecutive reviews.
How PATTERN risk levels work
PATTERN scores inmates on static factors (age at first conviction, criminal history, offense severity) and dynamic factors (programming completion, disciplinary record, work assignments). A drop from Medium to Low risk unlocks both the higher 15-day earning rate and the ability to actually apply accumulated credits toward earlier prerelease custody or supervised release.
How credits are applied
Under 18 U.S.C. § 3624(g), earned FTCs can be used in two ways: (1) transfer to prerelease custody — a Residential Reentry Center (halfway house) or home confinement — with no statutory cap, or (2) transfer to supervised release up to 12 months early. An inmate must have a Minimum/Low PATTERN score, no detainers or final removal orders, and an approved release plan before credits are applied.
FSA credits vs. Good Conduct Time
Good Conduct Time under 18 U.S.C. § 3624(b) reduces the sentence itself by up to 54 days per year of the sentence imposed. FSA Federal Time Credits do not reduce the sentence — they shift where the last portion is served (halfway house, home confinement) or move the supervised-release date up to a year earlier. The two programs stack.
Frequently asked questions
What is the First Step Act (FSA)?
The First Step Act of 2018 is a federal criminal justice reform law that lets eligible Bureau of Prisons (BOP) inmates earn Federal Time Credits (FTCs, sometimes called ETCs) by successfully participating in Evidence-Based Recidivism Reduction (EBRR) programs and Productive Activities (PAs). Credits can be applied toward earlier transfer to prerelease custody (halfway house or home confinement) or supervised release.
How many FSA credits can I earn per month?
Under 18 U.S.C. § 3632(d)(4), an eligible inmate earns 10 days of FTC for every 30 days of successful participation. Inmates assessed as minimum or low risk of recidivism on two consecutive PATTERN assessments earn an additional 5 days per 30 days, for a total of 15 days per 30 days (roughly 50% of time served in programming).
Who is ineligible to apply FSA credits?
Inmates convicted of certain disqualifying offenses listed in 18 U.S.C. § 3632(d)(4)(D) cannot apply FTCs, including many violent, terrorism, sex, and high-level drug or firearms offenses. Non-U.S. citizens with final orders of removal also cannot have credits applied toward prerelease custody or supervised release.
What is PATTERN and how does it affect my credits?
PATTERN (Prisoner Assessment Tool Targeting Estimated Risk and Needs) is BOP's risk-assessment instrument. It scores inmates as Minimum, Low, Medium, or High risk. Only inmates at Minimum or Low risk (and who have maintained that level on two consecutive assessments) can actually apply earned credits toward early release; Medium and High risk inmates can accrue credits but cannot use them until they reduce their risk level.
Can FSA credits be combined with Good Conduct Time (GCT)?
Yes. Good Conduct Time (up to 54 days per year under 18 U.S.C. § 3624(b)) is separate from FSA Federal Time Credits and reduces the sentence itself. FTCs are applied on top of GCT and shift the release destination (to halfway house, home confinement, or supervised release) rather than reducing the underlying sentence.
Is this FSA calculator official?
No. This is an educational estimator. Official credit calculations are performed by the BOP and appear on your Inmate Profile / FSA Time Credit Assessment. Actual credits depend on program availability, disciplinary history, PATTERN reassessments, and eligibility determinations made by BOP staff.