Reviewed against 18 U.S.C. § 3621(e), 28 C.F.R. § 550.55, and BOP Program Statements 5330.11 / 5331.02. Last updated .
What does the RDAP date depend on?
- Early-release eligibility — the § 550.55 exclusions (violent offenses, firearm enhancements, disqualifying priors) decide whether the year off exists at all; details here.
- Sentence length tier — 6 / 9 / 12-month maximums by sentence imposed.
- Program timing — entry date plus ~9–12 months of program plus community treatment can compress the reduction if admission comes late; waitlists matter.
- Interaction with FSA credits — RDAP itself earns FSA credits as an EBRR program; the calculator applies both without double-counting the same days.
Frequently asked questions
How much time does RDAP take off a 60-month sentence?
Up to 12 months (the ≥ 37-month tier), on top of 270 days of Good Conduct Time and any First Step Act credits — plus the final months in community treatment at a halfway house or home confinement. Whether the full year survives depends on program timing and eligibility.
Does RDAP time off apply to violent offenses?
No — 28 C.F.R. § 550.55 excludes offenses BOP classifies as violent and drug offenses carrying firearm enhancements from the early release (the program itself remains open for treatment, and still earns FSA credits).
Can you calculate an RDAP date before admission?
Yes, as a scenario: the calculator assumes an entry date and shows how the reduction shrinks if entry slips. That's also the honest way to read any RDAP promise — against the waitlist at the person's facility.
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.