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Bureau Of Prisons Retracts Rule, Truly Expands Halfway House

In May, Bureau of Prisons (BOP) distributed a memorandum stating that inmates who have earned 365 days of First Step Act (FSA) credits for prerelease custody are not eligible for additional prerelease time under the Second Chance Act. Further, it stated that those who had shorter sentences, under 4 years, and who had a home to stay in, could only get home confinement under the Second Chance Act. That limitation, 10% of the sentence imposed up to a maximum of 6 months, meant that many minimum and low security inmates would stay in institution correctional facilities for much longer.

Trump’s Pardons Are Part Of Remaking DOJ

In 2025, President Donald Trump issued a series of high-profile pardons and commutations, notably surpassing his previous clemency record (143 pardons and 85 commutations). A significant action was the mass pardon on January 20, 2025, for approximately 1,500 individuals convicted in connection with the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack. This included full pardons for leaders of extremist groups such as the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers.

New Leadership Addresses Bureau Of Prisons Employee Misconduct

It has been nearly five years since Associated Press journalists Michael Balsamo and Michael Sisak reported on the number of Federal Bureau of Prisons employees who had been arrested for criminal acts. The charges ranged from a warden indicted for sexual abuse, an associate warden charged with murder, guards taking cash to smuggle drugs and weapons, and supervisors stealing property such as tires and tractors.

Meet Joshua Smith, New Deputy Director Of Bureau Of Prisons

There have been many “Firsts” in the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). The first director of the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) was Sanford Bates who got the job in 1930. Charles Samuels was the first African American director and Kathleen Hawk Sawyer was the first woman director. Now, a Deputy Director has been named to the BOP and that too will be a first.

Trump Makes News With More Pardons And Commutations

During his first term, President Donald Trump issued a total of 238 pardons and commutations (143 pardons and 85 commutations). Like presidents before him, the majority of those receiving commutations had served a significant part of their prison term while most all of those pardoned had completed their sentence years ago.