Bureau of Prisons Failed to Award Time-Served Credits to 60,000 Inmates
Inspector General Horowitz raised concerns that the delay in applying earned time credits may negatively affect inmates who have earned a reduction in their sentence or release.
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A report from Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz has found that 60,000 inmates potentially did not properly receive credits for time served under the First Step Act’s recidivism programs, reports ABC News. The inspector general also found that the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) failed to incentivize or reward inmates who completed First Step-related programs.
The BOP told the inspector general the credits weren’t applied because they “must be negotiated with the national union because it would create changes to conditions of employment, including determinations and application of earned time credits for inmates, for Unit Team staff working in BOP institutions who are bargaining unit employees.” The DOJ report noted that a lack of in-person negotiations with BOP union members slowed the implementation of the act and inspector general recommendations. BOP union negotiations weren’t taking place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, despite BOP staff going into federal prisons across the country.
