The First Step Act (FSA) allows eligible federal prisoners to earn time credits that reduce their time in custody or move them earlier to prerelease custody or supervised release. However, not everyone qualifies. Congress created a list of disqualifying offenses under 18 U.S.C. § 3632(d)(4)(D). If your conviction is on this list—or meets certain aggravating factors—the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) will not apply FSA credits to your sentence.
How to Check Your Eligibility
Start by reviewing your Judgment & Commitment (J&C) paperwork for each count of conviction. Look for the statute and subsection (e.g., “21:841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B)(vi)”). Even a single disqualifying count can make your entire sentence ineligible for FSA credits.
Categories of Disqualifying Offenses
Below are major offense categories that can disqualify you from earning or applying FSA time credits. This is not exhaustive; always compare your charges to § 3632(d)(4)(D) and the BOP’s published table.
- Drug Offenses with Specific Findings:
- 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(A)(vi) or (B)(vi) (fentanyl-specific provisions).
- Any drug case with a finding that “death or serious bodily injury resulted.”
- Certain methamphetamine cases with an aggravating role enhancement (organizer/leader/manager/supervisor).
- Firearms and Explosives:
- 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) convictions involving firearms used in drug trafficking or violent crimes.
- Convictions for possession of destructive devices or explosives under §§ 844, 922, or 924.
- Violent Crimes:
- Homicide, kidnapping, aggravated assault, and other violent offenses under Title 18.
- Sexual abuse, exploitation of children, and sex trafficking crimes under Chapters 109A, 110, and 117 of Title 18.
- Terrorism-Related Offenses:
- Any offense listed in § 2332b(g)(5)(B), including material support for terrorism.
- Espionage and Treason:
- Espionage under §§ 792–799 and treason under § 2381.
- Repeat Sex Offender Registration Failures:
- Failure to register under § 2250 if you are a Tier II or Tier III sex offender.
These are the offenses Congress listed in 18 U.S.C. § 3632(d)(4)(D) that make a person ineligible to receive First Step Act (FSA) time credits. Always compare your J&C to the exact subsection below.
- 18 U.S.C. § 32 — destruction of aircraft or aircraft facilities.
- 18 U.S.C. § 33 — destruction of motor vehicles or motor vehicle facilities.
- 18 U.S.C. § 36 — drive-by shootings.
- 18 U.S.C. § 81 — arson within special maritime and territorial jurisdiction.
- 18 U.S.C. § 111(b) — assaulting certain officers with a deadly/dangerous weapon or causing bodily injury.
- 18 U.S.C. § 113(a)(1),(7),(8) — assault with intent to murder; certain domestic/juvenile strangulation/suffocation assaults.
- 18 U.S.C. § 115 — retaliating against/impeding a federal official by injuring a family member (except mere threats).
- 18 U.S.C. § 116 — female genital mutilation.
- 18 U.S.C. § 117 — domestic assault by a habitual offender.
- Any section of 18 U.S.C. ch. 10 (Biological Weapons).
- Any section of 18 U.S.C. ch. 11B (Chemical Weapons).
- 18 U.S.C. § 351 — Congressional/Cabinet/Supreme Court assassination, kidnapping, assault.
- 18 U.S.C. § 521 — criminal street gangs.
- 18 U.S.C. § 751 — escape (prisoners in custody).
- 18 U.S.C. § 793 — gathering/transmitting/losing defense information.
- 18 U.S.C. § 794 — delivering defense information to aid a foreign government.
- Any section of 18 U.S.C. ch. 39 (Explosives & other dangerous articles), except § 836.
- 18 U.S.C. § 842(p) — distributing info on explosives/destructive devices/WMDs (if a WMD was involved).
- 18 U.S.C. § 844(f)(3), (h), (i) — certain uses of fire/explosives.
- 18 U.S.C. § 871 — threats against the President/successors.
- 18 U.S.C. § 879 — threats against former Presidents and certain persons.
- 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) — firearm during a crime of violence/drug trafficking crime.
- 18 U.S.C. § 1030(a)(1) — certain national-defense computer offenses.
- 18 U.S.C. § 1091 — genocide.
- Any section of 18 U.S.C. ch. 51 (Homicide), except §§ 1112, 1113 (only attempt to commit manslaughter), 1115, 1122.
- Any section of 18 U.S.C. ch. 55 (Kidnapping).
- Any offense under 18 U.S.C. ch. 77 (Peonage, Slavery, Trafficking), except §§ 1593–1596.
- 18 U.S.C. § 1751 — Presidential assassination/kidnapping/assault.
- 18 U.S.C. § 1791 — prison contraband.
- 18 U.S.C. § 1792 — mutiny and riots.
- 18 U.S.C. § 1841(a)(2)(C) — killing/attempting to kill an unborn child (intentional).
- 18 U.S.C. § 1992 — attacks/violence against railroad or mass-transport systems.
- 18 U.S.C. § 2113(e) — bank robbery resulting in death.
- 18 U.S.C. § 2118(c) — controlled-substance robberies/burglaries with assault, jeopardy by dangerous weapon/device, or death.
- 18 U.S.C. § 2119 — carjacking.
- Any section of 18 U.S.C. ch. 105 (Sabotage), except § 2152.
- Any section of 18 U.S.C. ch. 109A (Sexual Abuse).
- 18 U.S.C. § 2250 — failure to register as a sex offender.
- 18 U.S.C. § 2251 — sexual exploitation of children.
- 18 U.S.C. § 2251A — selling or buying children.
- 18 U.S.C. § 2252 — certain activities re: material involving sexual exploitation of minors.
- 18 U.S.C. § 2252A — child pornography offenses.
- 18 U.S.C. § 2260 — production of sexually explicit depictions of a minor for importation.
- 18 U.S.C. § 2283 — transporting explosive/biological/chemical/radioactive/nuclear materials.
- 18 U.S.C. § 2284 — transportation of terrorists.
- 18 U.S.C. § 2291 — destruction of vessel/maritime facility (if conduct involved substantial risk of death/SBI).
- Any section of 18 U.S.C. ch. 113B (Terrorism).
- 18 U.S.C. § 2340A — torture.
- 18 U.S.C. § 2381 — treason.
- 18 U.S.C. § 2442 — recruitment/use of child soldiers.
- 18 U.S.C. § 3559(c)(2)(F) — certain “serious violent felony” recidivists (see cross-referenced predicate list).
- 42 U.S.C. § 2077(b) — AEA § 57(b): special nuclear material development/production participation.
- 42 U.S.C. § 2122 — AEA § 92: atomic weapons prohibitions.
- 42 U.S.C. § 2131 — AEA § 101: license requirement.
- 42 U.S.C. § 2274 / § 2275 — AEA §§ 224–225: communication/receipt of restricted data.
- 42 U.S.C. § 2284 — AEA § 236: sabotage of nuclear facilities or fuel.
- 49 U.S.C. § 60123(b) — damaging/destroying a pipeline facility (if substantial risk of death/SBI).
- 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(A),(B),(C) — drug distribution where death or serious bodily injury resulted.
- 8 U.S.C. § 1326 — illegal reentry (if within § 1326(b)(1) or (b)(2)).
- 8 U.S.C. § 1327 — aiding/assisting certain aliens to enter the U.S.
- 8 U.S.C. § 1328 — importation of an alien for immoral purposes.
- Any section of the (now-repealed) Export Administration Act of 1979 (former 50 U.S.C. § 4611 et seq.).
- 50 U.S.C. § 1705 — IEEPA § 206.
- 50 U.S.C. § 3121 — National Security Act § 601 (protection of certain covert identities).
- Aggravated role drug cases (heroin, fentanyl, meth):
- 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(A)(i) or (B)(i) / 21 U.S.C. § 960(b)(1)(A) or (2)(A) — heroin with organizer/leader/manager/supervisor finding.
- 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(A)(vi) or (B)(vi) / 21 U.S.C. § 960(b)(1)(F) or (2)(F) — fentanyl/fentanyl analogs.
- 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(A)(viii) or (B)(viii) / 21 U.S.C. § 960(b)(1)(H) or (2)(H) — methamphetamine with organizer/leader/manager/supervisor finding.
- 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(A) or (B) / 21 U.S.C. § 960(b)(1) or (2) — any controlled-substance offense if (I) it involved fentanyl/fentanyl analogs and (II) the court found an organizer/leader/manager/supervisor role.
Important note about immigration bars
Separate from offense-based exclusions, a person with a final order of removal is ineligible to apply FSA credits toward prerelease/supervised release. See 18 U.S.C. § 3632(d)(4)(E).
Examples
– A person convicted under § 841(a)(1) with § 841(b)(1)(C) (no death/serious injury finding) is usually eligible.
– A person with § 841(b)(1)(A)(vi) fentanyl charges or § 924(c) firearm convictions is ineligible.
Why BOP Gets It Wrong
The BOP sometimes denies credits based on offense descriptions (like “fentanyl”) without looking at the actual statute and subparagraph. Eligibility turns on what’s written in your J&C, not just what was alleged. Prisoners can challenge these mistakes through the Administrative Remedy Program and, if necessary, the courts.
How to Challenge a Wrongful Denial
- Review Your J&C: Identify exact statutes and penalty subsections.
- Compare to the Statute: Match against § 3632(d)(4)(D) and BOP’s FSA time credit table.
- File Administrative Remedies: Use BP-9, BP-10, and BP-11 forms. Cite the statute and Program Statement 5410.01 (FSA Time Credits).
- Get Legal Help: Attorneys can help preserve a clear record for court challenges if needed.
Not all federal prisoners are eligible for First Step Act benefits. If you’re serving time for a serious drug, firearm, terrorism, or sex offense listed in the law, you may be excluded. But the law is precise—eligibility depends on the exact statute and findings. Never assume you’re disqualified just because of the drug name or case description. Check your J&C and get advice before giving up your rights.
If you believe that you qualify for FSA Credits, get in touch and let us fight for and defend your rights.