Sean “P. Diddy” Combs was sentenced to 50 months in federal prison on October 3, 2025. He reportedly has about 12 months of time served credited from pre-sentence detention. Below we walk through how the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) typically calculates release dates using Good Conduct Time (GCT), First Step Act (FSA) earned time credits, and RDAP—and what that could mean in practice.
The Sentence (and What’s Confirmed)
Multiple major outlets reported that Judge Arun Subramanian sentenced Combs to 50 months (4 years, 2 months) in federal prison, with a $500,000 fine, after a July 2025 jury conviction on two Mann Act counts (transportation to engage in prostitution). He was acquitted on the more serious racketeering and sex trafficking counts. Reports also note he has ~12 months time served since his 2024 arrest and remained detained through sentencing.
Step 1 — Good Conduct Time (GCT)
Under the First Step Act, qualifying federal prisoners earn up to 54 days GCT for each year of the sentence imposed, prorated for partial years. For a 50-month sentence (≈4.17 years), that’s roughly 225 days (~7.5 months) of GCT if no disciplinary issues occur.
Step 2 — Credit for Time Already Served
If Combs has ~12 months of pre-sentence custody credit, BOP will subtract that from the 50-month term. After also accounting for projected GCT, the baseline remaining secure-custody time is approximately:
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Sentence imposed | 50 months |
| Less time served | − 12 months |
| Subtotal | = 38 months |
| Less projected GCT (~7.5 months) | − 7.5 months |
| Baseline remaining | ≈ 30.5 months |
This is a projection. GCT is earned over time and can be lost if there are disciplinary sanctions.
Step 3 — First Step Act (FSA) Earned Time Credits
The FSA lets eligible people earn credits—10 to 15 days for every 30 days of successful programming—which can be applied toward early transfer to prerelease custody (RRC/home confinement) or sometimes directly to supervised release. Eligibility depends largely on the offense of conviction and risk/needs assessments.
The BOP’s public list of disqualifying offenses under 18 U.S.C. § 3632(d)(4)(D) does not list Chapter 117 Mann Act § 2421 among exclusions (many sex-abuse and child-exploitation statutes in Chapters 109A/110 are excluded, but § 2421 is not expressly on the list). If that holds for the specific counts of conviction, Combs could be eligible to earn FSA credits—subject to PATTERN risk and other criteria.
Bottom line: If eligible and actively programming, FSA credits can reduce secure-custody time by up to ~12 months in many cases (often shifting time to RRC/home confinement).
Step 4 — RDAP (Residential Drug Abuse Program)
RDAP can provide an additional up to 12-month sentence reduction for eligible people who complete the program (18 U.S.C. § 3621(e)). Eligibility requires documented substance use disorder and other BOP criteria, and certain violent/sex offenses can be excluded by regulation. For sentences of 37+ months, BOP policy historically allowed up to a full year off upon completion. Whether Combs qualifies is unknown from public reporting.
Putting It Together — Scenario Modeling
| Scenario | Estimated Secure-Custody Remaining | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline (GCT only) | ≈ 30.5 months | Assumes ~12 months time served and full GCT earned. |
| GCT + FSA credits | ≈ 18.5–24.5 months | Assumes eligibility and steady programming earning 10–15 days/30 days up to roughly 12 months credited to prerelease custody. |
| GCT + RDAP | ≈ 18.5 months | Assumes RDAP eligibility, admission, and completion for up to 12 months off. Program takes ~9–12 months + transitional component. |
| GCT + RDAP + FSA | ≈ 6.5–12.5 months in secure custody | Stacked reductions are possible in principle (BOP says inmates can benefit from both RDAP early release and GCT; FSA then applies toward prerelease custody). Real-world limits include programming availability, risk level, and timing. |
These are educational estimates based on public sources; BOP performs the official computation and controls program placement.
What Could Change the Math
- Appeal/Post-conviction: A successful appeal or resentencing obviously resets everything.
- Disciplinary incidents: Can reduce/forfeit GCT or delay program access.
- FSA eligibility/risk status: If ineligible or not minimum/low risk, FSA credits may not apply or may apply only to prerelease placement.
- RDAP gatekeeping: Requires verified substance use disorder and bed space; the BOP has broad discretion over admission and early-release decisions.
Key Takeaway
With GCT only, our rough projection is ~30.5 months of secure custody remaining. If eligible and consistently programming, FSA credits and/or RDAP could materially reduce that time—potentially shifting a year (or more) into prerelease custody and, in the most favorable circumstances, lowering secure-custody time to well under a year. BOP controls the official computation and program placements.
Questions about federal time calculation? Contact Prison Law Firm