The Federal Correctional Institution in Sheridan.
Ericka Cruz Guevarra / OPB
The Federal Bureau of Prisons announced a new rule Thursday to give nonviolent offenders the opportunity for early release.
The rule is designed to bring clarity to a 2018 law passed by Congress called the First Step Act, a bipartisan piece of legislation aimed at reduce lengthy federal prison sentences.
Under the First Step Act, those federal prisoners are able to earn credits by enrolling in programs designed to reduce recidivism, such as job training and drug and alcohol treatment. Inmates who earned enough credits could get a sentence reduced by up to 12 months or the ability to complete a sentence in a community setting, such as a reentry center or home detention.
Four inmates at Oregon’s federal prison in Sheridan filed a lawsuit arguing the prison wasn’t giving them credit when it could’ve been. Last month, a judge ruled in their favor.
Since federal lawmakers passed the First Step Act, the Bureau of Prisons had not been calculating early release credits for as many as 60,000 inmates, according to an Department of Justice Inspector General report.
The Justice Department said it will begin releasing inmates who have credits and who have less than 12 months until their release date.