Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Infographic: How Prison Reform Works in the FIRST STEP Act (2018)

The FIRST STEP Act creates a system within the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) intended to provide those incarcerated with programs, education, and skills that will help them re-enter their communities after they have served their sentence. These re-entry programs are essential public health and safety strategies, since 95 percent of those incarcerated will eventually be released and return to their families. Thus, policymakers should look to expand—rather than restrict—incentives to participate in these programs.

This infographic details how the FIRST STEP Act’s prison reform provisions work and how the multiple layers embedded in the system ensure a person receives the services and programs they need to transition back into the community.