By the Brennan Center for Justice
The First Step Act of 2018 The Department of Justice’s 2024 report on the First Step Act of 2018 evaluates its effectiveness in reducing mass incarceration and reforming federal prison conditions. Designed to provide second chances, this bipartisan law introduced sentencing and prison reforms, including retroactive application of the Fair Sentencing Act, expanded judicial discretion for certain drug offenses, and compassionate release for those with compelling circumstances. It also increased funding for rehabilitation programs and created systems for earned time credits, facilitating early release for program participants and reconnecting them with their communities.
Since its enactment, the First Step Act has made progress. Over 4,000 people received reduced sentences under the Fair Sentencing Act, and more than 2,600 were granted compassionate release. In prisons, rehabilitation programs expanded significantly, leading to 443,569 completions and a rise in drug treatment participation. The recidivism rate for those released under the act is 9.7%, a significant drop from the 46.2% rate for releases in 2018.
However, the law faces challenges. Legal debates and Supreme Court rulings, such as Terry v. United States and Pulsifer v. United States, have affected its implementation, limiting eligibility for sentence reductions and earned time credits for certain groups. Operational issues, including bed shortages, have delayed releases. Despite these obstacles, the First Step Act is a foundational reform, advancing a more rehabilitative and humane criminal justice system.
For the full article: https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/analyzing-first-step-acts-impact-criminal-justice