Reviewed against 18 U.S.C. § 3624, 18 U.S.C. § 3632, and BOP Program Statement 5880.28. Last updated .
What dates does the calculator produce?
| Date | What it means | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Full-term date | Sentence end with zero credits — the anchor | judgment + § 3585 |
| GCT release date | Full term minus up to 54 days/year | § 3624(b) |
| FSA-adjusted release | GCT date minus applied credits (365-day cap) | § 3624(g) |
| Halfway house / home confinement | Community placement window opens | § 3624(c), (g) |
| RDAP-adjusted release | Up to 12 more months for eligible graduates | § 3621(e) |
Each date below the GCT line depends on eligibility, programming, PATTERN risk level, and BOP discretion — so the calculator reports them as estimates with the assumptions stated, never as promises. When BOP's paperwork shows something later than the law allows, that difference is what our case tools turn into a document.
What information do you need to run it?
- Sentence imposed — months, from the judgment (form AO 245B).
- Date custody started and jail credit days — from the judgment or the BOP computation sheet.
- Offense category — only to check First Step Act credit eligibility.
- PATTERN level, if known — it sets the credit earning rate; if unknown, the calculator shows both rates.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is a federal release date calculator?
The Good Conduct Time math is deterministic and should match BOP to the day when the inputs are right. Dates that depend on program participation, PATTERN levels, and bed space are estimates by nature — this calculator states its assumptions and shows a confidence band rather than a false single day.
Why is BOP's date later than the calculator's?
Common reasons: jail credit not yet posted, FSA credits earned but not applied, an eligibility flag set wrong, or a conditional placement date lagging recalculation. If the discrepancy survives a math check, the fix is a written request and, if needed, the BP-9 remedy process.
Does the calculator work for state sentences?
No — it models federal law (18 U.S.C. §§ 3585, 3624, 3632). State good-time rules differ by state and are often more generous or more restrictive.
Is this legal advice?
No. It's arithmetic applied to public law, for education and planning. The BOP makes all final determinations, and case-specific decisions deserve a lawyer.
Primary sources
Everything on this page is drawn from the statutes, regulations, and BOP program statements below — read them directly:
Keep reading
Estimates, not promises
This page describes federal law and Bureau of Prisons policy in general terms for education. It is not legal advice, it doesn't account for the facts of any individual case, and no attorney–client relationship is created by reading it. The BOP makes all final release-date determinations. Have an attorney review anything before you file it. Built by OutDate, the federal release date calculator.