Reviewed against 18 U.S.C. § 3632(d)(4), 18 U.S.C. § 3624(g), and 28 C.F.R. part 523, subpart E. Last updated .
Why does FSA credit math need a simulation, not a formula?
Because the earning rate changes mid-sentence. The jump from 10 to 15 days per 30 depends on when the second consecutive minimum/low assessment lands — an event on a 180-day cycle — and the credits themselves move the release date the cycle is racing against. The calculator builds the assessment timeline, applies rate changes on the dates they occur, and stops or continues accrual in prerelease custody according to the circuit rule you select.
| Input | Effect |
|---|---|
| PATTERN history | Sets when the 15-day rate begins (or never does) |
| Offense category | Excluded offense → zero credits, whole sentence |
| Detainer / removal-order status | Final order blocks application, not earning |
| Sentencing circuit | Prerelease accrual and SCA stacking differ by circuit |
| Disciplinary record | Pauses earning; can forfeit earned credits |
Frequently asked questions
How many FSA credits does a 5-year sentence earn?
An eligible person programming throughout with sustained low risk earns roughly 500–700 days across the sentence (about 120/year at the 10-day rate, 180/year at 15). The bound that matters is application: 365 days maximum toward early supervised release, with the rest funding halfway-house or home-confinement time.
When do FSA credits start counting?
From the start of successful programming participation after the sentence commences — BOP's rule (28 C.F.R. § 523.42) counts 30-day increments of participation, and under current policy most people in general population are treated as participating from arrival.
Can FSA credits be applied with a medium PATTERN score?
Not toward supervised-release transfer — 18 U.S.C. § 3624(g)(1)(D) requires minimum or low on the last assessment (prerelease custody generally requires it on the last two, or warden approval). Credits keep accruing at the 10-day rate in the meantime.
Primary sources
Everything on this page is drawn from the statutes, regulations, and BOP program statements below — read them directly:
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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.