First Step Act (FSA) Credit Calculator

Estimate Earned Time Credits, good conduct time, and projected federal release timing under the First Step Act of 2018. Educational estimate only — the BOP's official calculation controls.

Estimator

Every 30 days of qualifying EBRR programs or PAs earns credit.

Estimated results

Good conduct time
270 days (8.9 mo)
FSA Earned Time Credits
182 days (6.0 mo)
Projected time in custody after credits
1374 days — about 45.1 months

This is an unofficial estimate. Actual credits depend on BOP program assignments, disciplinary record, and detainers.

Pair with the guideline range

Use the Northern Florida Sentencing Calculator to estimate the guideline range first, then plug the low and high months here to see potential reductions.

How First Step Act credits are earned

The First Step Act of 2018 created a system of Earned Time Credits (ETCs) to reward federal inmates who complete evidence-based recidivism reduction (EBRR) programs and productive activities (PAs). Credits shorten time in secure custody by moving inmates to prerelease custody (halfway house or home confinement) or, up to 12 months, onto supervised release earlier.

Credit earning rate

  • 10 days of credit per 30 days of successful programming for most eligible inmates.
  • 15 days of credit per 30 days if the inmate has been assessed as minimum or low risk of recidivism and maintained that level across two consecutive PATTERN assessments.

PATTERN risk levels

The BOP uses the PATTERN risk assessment tool to score every inmate as minimum, low, medium, or high risk. Only minimum and low risk inmates can apply earned credits toward release; medium and high risk inmates can still earn credits but cannot cash them in until their risk drops.

Who is eligible

Most federal inmates are eligible. Convictions on the list at 18 U.S.C. § 3632(d)(4)(D) — including many violent, terrorism, sex, and large-scale drug offenses — disqualify an inmate from earning FSA credits, though they can still participate in programming.

Good conduct time is separate

FSA credits stack on top of good conduct time under 18 U.S.C. § 3624(b), which awards up to 54 days per year of sentence imposed for maintaining good behavior.

Informational tool only. Not legal advice. Consult a federal criminal defense attorney about your specific case.