First Step Act of 2018

The First Step Act of 2018 is a significant piece of legislation aimed at reforming the federal criminal justice system in the United States, focusing on rehabilitation and reducing recidivism among federal inmates. Here’s a summary of its key components:

1. Risk and Needs Assessment: The act mandates the Attorney General to create a risk and needs assessment system that evaluates the likelihood of recidivism among federal inmates. This system will guide decisions on housing, programming, and incentives for inmates to engage in recidivism reduction activities​(United States Sentencing Commission)​(Congress.gov | Library of Congress).
2. Incentives for Participation: To promote participation in rehabilitation programs, the First Step Act introduces several incentives, including increased access to phone privileges, the possibility of transferring to facilities closer to a prisoner’s home, and the opportunity to earn time credits that can shorten their sentences​ (Congress.gov | Library of Congress)​
3. Sentencing Reforms: The legislation modifies certain mandatory minimum sentencing laws, particularly for non-violent drug offenses. It also retroactively applies provisions from the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010, which aimed to address the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine offenses​(Congress.gov | Library of Congress)​
4. Judicial Improvements: The act seeks to enhance transparency and accountability in the judicial process by improving data collection and reporting practices related to the implementation of risk assessment tools by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)​(United States Sentencing Commission)​
5. Emphasis on Rehabilitation: The overarching goal of the First Step Act is to prioritize rehabilitation over punitive measures, thereby providing inmates with opportunities for successful reintegration into society. This focus aims to reduce overall prison populations and address issues of overcrowding within federal facilities​(United States Sentencing Commission).