- Home confinement is capped by law at the shorter of 10% of the term or 6 months (18 U.S.C. § 3624(c)(2)).
- First Step Act (FSA) Earned Time Credits can accelerate eligibility for prerelease custody (RRC/home), but the home-confinement cap still applies.
- RDAP (§ 3621(e)) completion may reduce a sentence by up to 12 months for eligible participants.
- Your Unit Team should confirm projected prerelease/Home Confinement dates and that credits post correctly.
What “Home Confinement Eligibility Date” Means
“Home confinement eligibility” marks the point when the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) may move someone to home detention as part of prerelease custody. By statute, home confinement comes near the end of the sentence and is limited to the shorter of 10% of the sentence or 6 months. The rest of the prerelease window may be served in a Residential Reentry Center (RRC, often called a halfway house), depending on needs, risk, and space.
How FSA Earned Time Credits Affect Eligibility
The First Step Act allows eligible programming and productive activities to earn credits that can be applied toward earlier eligibility for prerelease custody. BOP may display a Conditional Placement Date indicating when credits make someone eligible for RRC or home confinement—still subject to the statutory home-confinement cap, risk/needs, and availability.
- Confirm credits are posting monthly and tied to completed programs.
- Resolve detainers or unmet program prerequisites that can limit placements.
RDAP and Other Early-Release Tools
The Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) may reduce a qualifying sentence by up to 12 months upon successful completion, plus transitional requirements. Eligibility limits apply. Other mechanisms—such as compassionate release (§ 3582(c)(1)(A)) or cooperation-based reductions (Rule 35/5K1.1)—are separate and fact-specific.
Verifying—and Fixing—Your Dates
- Ask your Unit Team to show the projected prerelease and home-confinement dates and whether Good Conduct Time and FSA credits are fully posted.
- If dates look wrong, request a written breakdown of the calculation and escalate through the administrative remedy process if needed.
- Keep copies of program completions and any health or family documentation that can affect timelines.
What Can Change Timelines?
| Factor | Effect | Your Action |
|---|---|---|
| Program completions (FSA/RDAP) | May accelerate prerelease eligibility | Confirm credits posting; retain certificates |
| Detainers / pending matters | Can restrict RRC/home placement | Work with counsel to resolve or document status |
| Risk/needs assessments | Influence placement mix (RRC vs. home) | Verify the assessment and address flagged needs |
| Disciplinary history | May delay credits/placements | Appeal where appropriate; maintain clean record |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a federal home confinement eligibility date?
It’s the projected date BOP may transfer someone to home detention as part of prerelease custody.
What legal limits apply to home confinement?
By law, home confinement is limited to the shorter of 10% of the sentence or 6 months (18 U.S.C. § 3624(c)(2)).
Do FSA Earned Time Credits guarantee home confinement?
No. Credits can accelerate eligibility for prerelease custody, but actual placement (RRC or home confinement) depends on statute, risk/needs, and availability.
What changed under the CARES Act?
During COVID-19, BOP could exceed normal caps. New placements generally follow the standard cap; those already on CARES Act home confinement typically remain if compliant.
How do I verify or correct my date?
Confirm credits and dates with your Unit Team, ask for a written calculation, and use the administrative remedy process if there are errors.