(BOP) - As part of the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) commitment to implement the First Step Act (FSA), a Training-for-FSA-Trainers course was conducted on October 8-10, 2019, with staff from each of the BOP's six regions participating. The training focused on how to determine an inmate's eligibility to earn FSA Time Credits (FTC) based on the criteria outlined in the law. Eligible inmates can apply FTC towards prerelease custody or supervised release. Using the Prisoner Assessment Tool Targeting Estimated Risk and Needs (PATTERN), staff practiced scoring inmates for both violent and general risk recidivism. Following completion of the initial training, these trainers instructed institution staff who began receiving training the week of October 14, 2019. Staff at each Bureau facility and privately-managed contract facility were trained within 30 days. Staff have begun determining whether each of the nearly 177,000 federal inmates are eligible to earn FSA time credits (FTCs) and are conducting preliminary recidivism risk assessments under PATTERN. (Any revisions to PATTERN may result in a reassessment for inmates who may be potentially impacted.) Staff have currently assessed approximately 30,000 inmates for eligibility or ineligibility to receive FTCs and identified a preliminary recidivism risk level.
BOP subject-matter experts also conducted a national video conference with all institutions on November 19th to clarify with program staff how needs assessments can be conducted to identify appropriate programs for inmates based on their assigned risk. The BOP is assessing needs in 13 areas. The needs to be assessed are: anger/hostility; antisocial peers; cognitions; dyslexia; education; family/parenting; work; finance/poverty; medical; mental health; recreation/leisure/fitness; substance abuse, and trauma.
During the video conference, staff provided information and briefing on procedures for conducting preliminary needs assessments. In accordance with the FSA, the preliminary risk assessments are to be completed for all inmates by January 15, 2020.
For more information, please visit the FSA pages on bop.gov.