Can a BOP 100-Series Shot Disqualify You from Second Chance Act Home Confinement or Halfway House?

Short Answer

A 100-series “shot” (the Bureau of Prisons’ Greatest Severity disciplinary offenses) does not impose an automatic, permanent ban on Second Chance Act (SCA) Residential Reentry Center (RRC/halfway house) or home confinement. But it can seriously hurt your chances, shorten your placement, or—under First Step Act (FSA) rules—ordinarily preclude early application of earned time credits toward prerelease custody for a period of time.

What Is a “100-Series” Shot?

Under the BOP’s Inmate Discipline Program (P5270.09), prohibited acts are grouped by severity. The 100-series includes the most serious misconduct (e.g., killing, aggravated assault, escape, weapons), with the harshest sanctions and long-term consequences for custody, programming, and community placement decisions.

How a 100-Series Shot Affects FSA Time Credits (ETCs)

The BOP’s FSA Time Credits policy (P5410.01, CN-2) explains when earned credits can be applied early to prerelease custody or supervised release. That policy states that, ordinarily, inmates who have been found to have committed a 100- or 200-level prohibited act during the current term (or certain drug/alcohol violations within the past three years) are not approved for early transfer using FSA credits. The DHO may also impose a specific sanction of loss of FSA credits for misconduct.

Bottom line: a recent 100-series shot often blocks early application of FSA credits—even if you have otherwise earned them—until enough clear conduct time passes or you prevail on appeal.

How a 100-Series Shot Affects Second Chance Act Placements

The SCA requires that RRC or home confinement decisions be individualized and based on the five statutory factors in 18 U.S.C. § 3621(b). BOP’s public guidance confirms staff apply those five factors and make case-by-case decisions on both whether to place and how long to place someone in RRC/home confinement.

A 100-series shot is not listed in policy as an automatic bar to SCA placements, but it is a serious negative in the five-factor analysis (especially for public safety and the “history and characteristics of the prisoner”), and it frequently results in reduced RRC time or a denial. BOP policy and FOIA guidance also stress that community placements must be individualized and not reduced to a score or single datapoint.

Recent BOP communications likewise emphasize individualized decisions and rescinded attempts to cap SCA placements at 60 days in 2025—meaning longer placements remain available when justified.

The Five-Factor Review (What Your Case Manager Must Consider)

By statute, staff must weigh these factors when recommending and approving RRC/home confinement:

Resources of the facility being considered;
Nature and circumstances of the offense;
History and characteristics of the person (this is where disciplinary history—like a 100-series shot—looms large);
Any statements by the sentencing court (including recommendations);
Any pertinent policy statement by the U.S. Sentencing Commission.

Under the FSA policy, RRC/HC referrals also bundle in any remaining FSA credit days the person has earned, alongside the five-factor review—so a serious incident can affect both parts of the decision.

Will One 100-Series Shot Sink My Chances Forever?

Not necessarily. It’s a major problem, but it can be mitigated. The BOP tracks time since your last serious incident in Program Reviews and risk assessments, and policy allows you to regain eligibility with sustained clear conduct, program completion, and a solid release plan that we can assist you or your family with.

What to Do if You Receive a 100-Series Shot

Defend the incident report at the hearing and build a record.
Use the Administrative Remedy Program (BP-8 → BP-9 → BP-10 → BP-11) to appeal adverse findings or sanctions.
Pursue expungement or reduction where facts support it; a downgraded offense can materially change outcomes.
Document clear conduct and programming to show rehabilitation and reduce risk scores over time.
Submit a robust five-factor release plan (verified housing, job offers, treatment, transportation, community support) to offset the disciplinary history.

Key Policies & Sources

BOP Inmate Discipline Program (P5270.09) — defines 100-series offenses and sanctions.
BOP FSA Time Credits (P5410.01, CN-2) — “ordinarily precludes” early FSA transfers after 100/200-level shots; authorizes DHO loss of FSA credits; bundles five-factor review in referrals.
Statute: 18 U.S.C. § 3621(b) — the five placement factors that drive SCA decisions.
BOP RRC Guidance page (lists the five factors): Residential Reentry Management.
2013 BOP memo (FOIA) emphasizing individualized RRC/HC decisions, not score-only determinations. RRC/HC Guidance.
2025 BOP update rescinding a proposed 60-day SCA limit (keeps longer placements available when justified). BOP News.
Program Review & risk tracking (time since last serious incident). Unit Management & Program Review (P5321.09).

Takeaways

A 100-series shot is a serious strike against prerelease placement but not an irrevocable ban.
Under FSA rules, it often ordinarily blocks early application of credits to prerelease custody for a period—and the DHO can take FSA credits as a sanction.
Under the SCA, your case manager must still do a five-factor review and make an individualized decision; a strong release plan and clear conduct can improve outcomes.
If policy is misapplied, use the Administrative Remedy Program to challenge it—and consider legal action if necessary.