November 2026 FSA rule update
This change does not make credits automatic merely because a sentence has begun. FTC remain tied to statutory eligibility and successful participation in qualifying assigned evidence-based recidivism reduction programs or productive activities. Earning credits and applying earned credits remain separate questions.
Important source caution: BOP's public FAQ currently still contains older wording stating that a sentence begins when the person arrives or voluntarily surrenders at the designated facility. Because the 2026 Federal Register rule is newer, families should not rely on the older FAQ sentence alone when a commencement-date issue matters.
2026 BOP FSA Time Credits interim final rule · BOP First Step Act FAQ
The key difference
Good Conduct Time (GCT)
Under 18 U.S.C. § 3624(b), a qualifying federal prisoner serving more than one year (other than life) may receive up to 54 days for each year of the sentence imposed, subject to the statute and BOP determination.
First Step Act Time Credits (FTC)
Under 18 U.S.C. § 3632(d)(4), an eligible prisoner earns FTC for successful participation in evidence-based recidivism reduction programming or productive activities. Earned credits are applied toward prerelease custody or supervised release subject to the separate requirements of 18 U.S.C. § 3624(g).
Side-by-side
| Question | GCT | FSA Time Credits |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Credit toward service of the sentence under 18 U.S.C. § 3624(b). | Credits earned through eligible successful participation under 18 U.S.C. § 3632(d)(4). |
| Earning rule | Up to 54 days per year of sentence imposed for qualifying prisoners, subject to BOP determination. | 10 days for every 30 days of successful participation. A prisoner BOP determines is minimum or low risk who, over two consecutive assessments, has not increased risk earns an additional 5 days for every 30 days. |
| Same eligibility? | No. | No. FTC has separate statutory disqualifying offenses and separate application requirements. |
| Where can FTC be applied? | Not applicable. | Toward prerelease custody or supervised release when the statutory application requirements are met. |
| Is early supervised-release transfer unlimited? | Not an FTC issue. | No. Under 18 U.S.C. § 3624(g)(3), an FTC-based transfer to begin supervised release early may not exceed 12 months. |
FTC: earning is not the same as application
There are two different questions: Is the person eligible to earn FTC? and Can earned FTC be applied toward prerelease custody or supervised release? The statute contains offense-based earning exclusions, while 18 U.S.C. § 3624(g) sets additional requirements for application. Individual circumstances can also affect application, so an earned-credit balance alone does not establish a release or placement date.
Successful participation matters
The statute awards FTC for successful participation in qualifying evidence-based recidivism reduction programming or productive activities. BOP policy and guidance govern how participation is recorded and administered.
PATTERN / risk findings matter when credits are applied
For prerelease custody, § 3624(g) generally requires minimum/low risk on the last two reassessments, unless the statutory Warden-approval pathway is satisfied. The statute provides a related risk requirement for early transfer to supervised release. These are application rules, not a promise of a particular placement.
The 12-month limit needs careful wording
The 12-month statutory limit applies to an FTC-based early transfer to begin supervised release under § 3624(g)(3). It should not be described as a blanket 365-day cap on all FTC use, because FTC can also be applied toward prerelease custody when the governing requirements are met.
Resumen en español
Actualización de noviembre de 2026: una regla final interina del BOP revisó 28 CFR 523.42(a). El texto revisado indica que una persona elegible comienza a ganar Créditos de Tiempo FSA después de que comience su término de encarcelamiento. Se eliminó el texto entre paréntesis que vinculaba el comienzo a la llegada o entrega voluntaria en la institución designada del BOP.
Este cambio no hace que los créditos sean automáticos solamente porque comenzó la sentencia. La elegibilidad y la participación exitosa en programas o actividades calificadas siguen siendo necesarias, y ganar créditos no es lo mismo que poder aplicarlos.
GCT y los créditos de tiempo de la FSA no son lo mismo. Bajo 18 U.S.C. § 3624(b), una persona federal que califica y cumple una sentencia de más de un año (que no sea cadena perpetua) puede recibir hasta 54 días por cada año de la sentencia impuesta, sujeto a la ley y a la determinación del BOP.
Bajo 18 U.S.C. § 3632(d)(4), una persona elegible gana 10 días de FTC por cada 30 días de participación exitosa en programas o actividades que califican. Una persona que BOP determine de riesgo mínimo o bajo y que no haya aumentado su riesgo durante dos evaluaciones consecutivas gana 5 días adicionales por cada 30 días.
Ganar créditos y aplicarlos son cuestiones distintas. La aplicación hacia custodia previa a la liberación o libertad supervisada está sujeta a requisitos adicionales de 18 U.S.C. § 3624(g). El límite de 12 meses se refiere a una transferencia anticipada para comenzar libertad supervisada basada en FTC; no debe describirse como un límite general para todo uso de FTC.
Importante: Esta página es educativa, independiente y no está afiliada con BOP o DOJ. No es asesoría legal ni un cálculo oficial de fecha de liberación.
Primary sources
Use these primary sources to verify current rules and individual decisions.
2026 BOP FSA Time Credits interim final rule
18 U.S.C. § 3624 — Release of a prisoner
18 U.S.C. § 3632 — Risk and needs assessment system / time credits
BOP — First Step Act FAQ
BOP Program Statement 5405.01 — First Step Act Assessments, Programming, and Incentives (May 7, 2026)
BOP Policy Search — includes Program Statement 5410.01 CN-2 on FSA Time Credits