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Deconstructing The First Step Act of 2018 Risk and Needs Assessment System: For Inmates Seeking To Maximize Prison Time Credits

Federal Sentencing Alliance is pleased to provide you with this informational book titled: "Deconstructing The First Step Act of 2018 Risk and Needs Assessment System, For Inmates Seeking To Maximize Prison Time Credits", together with Appendix 1, a republished excerpt of Attorney General William Barr’s July 20, 2019 prototype release of The First Step Act of 2018 "PATTERN" Risk and Needs Assessment System. Appendix 1 is 96 pages long, while the synopsis and commentary is significantly shorter at 22 pages, analyzing core provisions. United States Attorney General William Barr announced a new risk and needs assessment system called the “Prisoner Assessment Tool Targeting Estimated Risk and Needs”, or simply "PATTERN”, that will be used shortly for recidivism risk assessment classification and then implementation of earned program and productive activity time credits for early release . Although the risk and needs factors and criteria for PATTERN were released, the actual "tool" to be used by Bureau Of Prisons personnel for scoring purposes has not yet been released. The "tool" is slotted to be released on or about September 3, 2019, following the forty five day public comment window from July 20, 2019. It should be noted that the PATTERN System is not final, and in fact, is subject to change, improvement, modification and a maturing process before it settles. That is the correct thing, as new system may have kinks. As for an inmate trying to estimate their own recidivism risk assessment score right now using the current assessment factors, that can be accomplished without the “tool”. This publication will describe how one can do that. Scoring your own recidivism risk assessment score now may help some inmates to plan ahead with how and by what manner they can capitalize on programming and activities when they become available in the future. Obviously, an inmate cannot score themselves and expect it to be binding on the Bureau Of Prisons, however, if the two scores are different it would provide grounds to further dispute incorrect findings internally within the Bureau Of Prisons. For that reason alone, it is important to score yourself, to ensure that the data being used to officially score recidivism risk under PATTERN is correct. Attorney General Barr’s July 20, 2019 published 102 page document“The First Step Act Of 2018: Risk And Needs Assessment System” from: https://www.nij.gov/documents/the-first-step-act-of-2018-risk-and-needs-assessment-system.pdf, is republished in this book and is attached as Appendix 1. There are numerous references to Appendix 1 cited throughout the synopsis provided in an effort to highlight important provisions, comment on several provisions, identify important Tables to use in scoring, and to make it a little easier to digest this new information. Federal Sentencing Alliance is not associated with the United States Congress, the Bureau Of Prisons, or any agency or department of the United States. The First Step Act Of 2018, it’s implementation, and final parameters, is within the sound province of the Attorney General Of The United States, the Bureau Of Prisons, and other federal departments and agencies. Any opinions expressed by Federal Sentencing Alliance should not be construed as legal advice. The analysis and opinions expressed by Federal Sentencing Alliance in this book regarding PATTERN System risk assessment, earned time credits for early release based upon successful participation and completion of recidivism reduction programs and/or productive activities, represent the opinions of Federal Sentencing Alliance alone, intended to foster critical thinking regarding these topics. The law speaks for itself, as does Attorney General William Barr, and official publications obtained directly from the United States. Attorneys please visit our Website: www.FederalSentencingAlliance.com, and Word Version of the Guidelines: www.FederalSentencingGuidelines.us.