Information You Need At Your Fingertips

USA First Step strives to give you the most accurate information you need to navigate the First Step Act, The Second Chance Act and the information you need to help you successfully navigate your entry into the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Information on The First Step Act is provided to help you understand the law, the program and the benefits of participation in the programming assigned to you. While not all of the information is applicable to everyone, you should be able to find specific topics that will apply to your unique situation. Additionally, you will find important information on the Application of Earned Time Credits towards an early release to Supervised Release, and ultimately your freedom!

Having a thorough understanding of the Release of a Prisoner laws, codified in 18 USC § 3624 should help you have a knowledgeable understanding of the different types of releases. The Second Chance Releases, codified in 18 USC § 3624(c) are different from those releases covered under the Risk and Needs programs covered in 18 USC § 3624(g). Knowing these differences will alleviate some stresses when your release date approaches and will better prepare you for an action plan if needed to address your specific release. The two distinct laws are significantly different to those with relative short incarcerations compared to those who have a longer term of incarceration and can earn significantly more FSA Earned Time Credits. 

Breaking down the specifics of the newly enacted PATTERN Risk and the SPARC-13 Needs Assessments should give you an understanding of the processes used to determine your current Risk Level Classification and your Criminogenic Needs as determined by staff at the Bureau of Prisons. Knowing this information up front and prior to entry should help you take advantage of the necessary steps needed to begin participation in FSA programming and should help setting you up to taking a proactive approach to your Re-Entry planning needs. 

There is a great amount of anxiety when confronted with being Justice Impacted. In the Preparing For Entry section, we cover things you need to know prior to your surrendering into custody. Knowing up front what items are permissible to take with you on your surrender day should help eliminate any issues regarding what you can and what you can't have. Also, preparing for your Re-Entry with a Password Checklist is provided to help you after release to restart your successful reentry with minimal headaches. A "First Day" page will eventually be included to break down any myths on entry day and should remove, or at least reduce the stresses inherent when surrendering.

Eventually we plan to include additional links to other venues to help you navigate the BOP, Residential Re-Entry Centers and other options to help you get the answers you need. Areas will include links to the United States Sentencing Commission, The Federal Bureau of Prisons and all their options/areas including Program Statements, Policies, etc.

Because legislation is a moving target never standing still (and sometimes standing still for too long), we will be actively researching proposed laws, changes and new laws affecting those affected by the Federal Justice system. We will be reporting on those items here to assist you keep up to date on items that may have an impact on you directly.

We hope you like what you see. Please feel free to give constructive feedback by emailing President@USAFIRSTSTEP.COM. Thank You

NOTES (Otherwise know as "Time to cover our asses": 

1. USA First Step is not a law firm nor do we profess to know the law better than anyone. The information presented here are indeed laws and you are free to use those laws to your benefit as you see fit. If queried on a specific law, please don't take it personally if our staff asks you to please consult a lawyer. We are not a law firm. To cover our end: The materials on this website are intended for informational purposes only. The materials on this website are not intended to be, nor should they be interpreted as, legal advice or legal opinion. The reader should not consider this information to be an invitation to an attorney/client relationship (we are not a law firm), should not rely on information presented here for any purpose, and should always seek the legal advice of counsel in the appropriate jurisdiction. Transmission and receipt of the information in this site and/or communication with the firm via e-mail is not intended to solicit or create, and does not create, any relationship between us and any person or entity. 
2. USA First Step is not a Prison Consulting firm. We are not in this business to write Release Plans, assist with gaining access to RDAP, or helping get a transfer from one place to another. We are simply a small slice of Apple Pie trying to help with information only those who are about to enter the Justice Impacted world.
3. The content of this website contains general information and may not reflect current legal developments. Such content is designed only to give general information on the developments actually covered. It is not intended to be a comprehensive summary of recent developments in the law, treat exhaustively the subjects covered, provide legal advice or render a legal opinion. Since the law is constantly changing and since the law will vary based on different facts and circumstances, statements on this website regarding the status of a given law or legal issue may not be current or applicable to your particular situation. You should not take any action based on the information in this website.
4. This website occasionally contains links to other web pages; however, the inclusion of such links does not constitute referrals or endorsements of the linked entities. Links to organizations and government agencies are provided as a convenience to our readers. USA First Step does not endorse and is not responsible for any third-party content that may be accessed from its website and does not recommend or endorse the use of any third-party’s services. The links are to be accessed at the user’s own risk, and the authors of this website make no representations or warranties about the content of these links.
5. We assume no responsibility for computer viruses resulting from the use of our website. Under no circumstances, including, but not limited to, negligence, and shall we be liable for any special or consequential damages that result from the use of, or the inability to use, the materials in this website, even if www.usafirststep.com has been advised of the possibility of such damages.
6. You agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless USA First Step and its members, managers, officers, employees, agents, and the assigns of same, from and against any and all loss, costs, expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses), claims, damages, and liabilities related to or associated with your use of the USA First Step website and any violation of these Terms and Conditions by you.
7. By accessing this website, you agree with USA First Step that any disputes or matters arising out of or related to your viewing or use of this website shall be governed under the laws of the State of Texas without regard to the conflict of laws.
8. The website provides helpful links for our clients and other visitors to assist in accessing information. However, we have no control over the content of the information contained in other websites – we cannot assure that the information obtained by linking from our website is accurate or reliable.
9. The website does not collect any personally identifiable information about you, other than information that you affirmatively choose to submit to us by e-mail on our submission form. Our website does not collect aggregate information about the use of our site, such as, which pages are most frequently visited, how many visitors we receive daily, and how long visitors stay on each page. Our web site does not use cookies.
10. USA First Step collects only information through the user via email communication seeking information on obtaining FSA Time Credit Assessments and PATTERN Risk Level Classifications. No information is stored, shared with others or used for any other means than for the specific purpose of completing the requested Analysis and Score Sheet. After completion of the specific request, USA First Step will maintain a copy of the documents provided for a period of two weeks and then, after the 14th day, will delete all files and emails associated with the original request.

That Should Cover All The Legal Mumble Jumble.