Legislation · 2018

First Step Act of 2018

A bipartisan criminal justice reform signed by President Trump, the law made the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010’s reduction of the crack-versus-powder cocaine sentencing disparity retroactive, reduced certain mandatory minimum sentences, broadened the “safety valve” for low-level drug offenders and ended the “stacking” of certain firearm sentence enhancements. It also created a risk and needs assessment system with earned time credits for completing recidivism-reduction programs, recalculated good-conduct credit, and prohibited restraining pregnant federal prisoners except in limited circumstances.

“A prisoner shall earn 10 days of time credits for every 30 days of successful participation in evidence-based recidivism reduction programming or productive activities.”

December 21, 2018

Why it matters

Passed 87–12 in the Senate and 358–36 in the House, it drew support from conservative and progressive reform advocates alike; thousands of federal prisoners received reduced sentences under its retroactive provisions.

Read the full text at govinfo.gov

Primary Source

The original record, reproduced or linked from the institution that holds it. Primary sources show what people said and did in their own words.

Subjects

criminal justice sentencing reform bipartisan second chances

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