On December 21, 2018, the First Step Act was signed into law by President Donald Trump. As quoted by the
president himself in his State of the Union speech, “Today, I am thrilled to announce my support for this bipartisan bill that will make our communities safer, and give former inmates a second chance at life after they served their time.” The African-American community have been wrongfully and disproportionately harmed sentencing laws reformed by the legislation.
The First Step Act gathered significant support from Democrats and Republicans alike. Authored by Reps.
Doug Collins (R-Ga.) and Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), the Act was approved early 2018 by the House (360-59 votes), which includes Democrats.
What Is The FIRST STEP Act?
FIRST STEP, also known as “Formerly Incarcerated Reenter Society Transformed Safely Transitioning Every Person Act”, is created to give prison inmates an early release from prison. It also focuses on future prison life sentences. The Act has a primary aim, which is to develop programs that help curb the potential risk of inmates regressing upon release from prison.
With the Act, it is the duty of the head of the Department of Justice, the U.S. attorney general to review current policies and generate propositions as regards to Evidence-based Recidivism Reduction Programs (EBRR) and constructive activities and come up with a Post-Sentencing Needs and Risk Assessment System. It is imperative that this action is taken within 180 days of the passage of the Act.
Additionally, the Act requires that prisoners who engage in and successfully complete these reduction programs would avail incentives and rewards.
Programs Covered By The FIRST STEP Act
The reduction programs cover either individual or group activities that are effective in curbing recidivism. This is based on empirical evidence or research. Hence, activities that would prevent convicted criminals from reoffending once they are out of prison are covered by the FIRST STEP Act.
These programs are tailored to boost the productivity of prisoners in their various communities upon release from prison. Such activities include vocational training, classes on morals and ethics, restorative justice programs, and faith-based classes and services.
What makes this Act unique is that it does not discriminate based on treatment, program, group, regimen, charity, company, and person. Hence, it also covers faith-based programs.
Rewards And Incentives For Prisoners
The Act provides these following incentives and rewards for prisoners that have successfully completed the recidivism reduction programs:
- They get an extended visitation time in prison as specified by the prison warden.
- Inmates are placed in facilities that are closer to their release residence. This is subjected to the facility security level, availability of bed space, and the approval of the prison warden.
- More access to product offerings commissary spending limits.
- Access to Emails.
- Transfer requests to preferred housing units are being considered.
- Other requests forwarded by the prisoners and approved by the director.
- Qualified inmates can also earn time credits. These credits range from 10 to 15 days for every month of Successful engagement in the reduction programs.
If you would like to know more about how the FIRST STEP Act helps Federal inmates, please visit this link provided within.
