RDAP: how the program works and who gets the year off
RDAP is BOP's intensive residential substance-abuse treatment program — roughly nine to twelve months and 500 treatment hours in a dedicated unit, followed by community treatment. Completing it can earn early release of up to 12 months under 18 U.S.C. § 3621(e)(2)(B), for people whose current (and past) offenses are nonviolent under 28 C.F.R. § 550.55. Admission requires a documented substance-use problem in the 12 months before arrest — documentation that exists (or doesn't) in the presentence report.
Reviewed against 18 U.S.C. § 3621(e), 28 C.F.R. § 550.55, and BOP Program Statement 5330.11. Last updated .
Who qualifies for RDAP — and who gets the early release?
Two different gates, commonly confused. Getting into the program requires a diagnosable substance-use disorder documented in the 12 months before arrest (the presentence report is the document that matters most), enough time left to complete the program, and a willingness to volunteer. Getting the § 3621(e) year off additionally requires that the conviction is nonviolent as BOP defines it in 28 C.F.R. § 550.55 — which excludes, among others, offenses involving firearms possession, and prior violent convictions.
| Gate | Key requirements | Where it's decided |
|---|---|---|
| Program admission | Documented SUD in the 12 months pre-arrest; ~24+ months remaining; volunteer | Drug Abuse Program Coordinator interview |
| § 3621(e) early release | Nonviolent current offense; no disqualifying priors; complete all phases | Eligibility review at admission (provisional) and on completion |
How much time off does RDAP actually give?
The statute says up to 12 months; BOP policy scales the maximum by sentence length. Completing RDAP also earns First Step Act credits — RDAP is an approved EBRR program — and those stack with the § 3621(e) reduction for people eligible for both. See how much time off for RDAP for the tiers and a worked example.
What does the program itself look like?
- Unit-based phase — 9–12 months living in a dedicated RDAP unit, half-day treatment and half-day work/programming, ~500 clinical hours of cognitive-behavioral treatment.
- Follow-up services — continued treatment while still at the institution, if time remains.
- Transitional Drug Abuse Treatment (TDAT) — mandatory community-based treatment during the halfway-house/home-confinement portion; § 3621(e) release is conditioned on completing it.
Not every facility runs RDAP — placement often means a transfer to one that does. Waitlists are real and admission is generally sequenced so the program ends near the release date. Check facility pages for which institutions run the program.
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Open the federal release date calculatorFrequently asked questions
How do you get documentation of a substance problem for RDAP?
The presentence investigation report is the document BOP relies on most. The window to shape it is before sentencing — telling the probation officer about substance use honestly, and having treatment records or corroboration. After sentencing, supplementing the record is much harder.
Can you do RDAP twice?
The program can sometimes be repeated for treatment, but § 3621(e) early release is a one-time benefit — a person who received the reduction on a prior federal sentence is not eligible for it again (28 C.F.R. § 550.55(b)).
Does RDAP early release stack with First Step Act credits?
They're separate mechanisms and both can apply to an eligible person: the § 3621(e) reduction moves the release date up to 12 months, and RDAP participation itself earns FSA credits as an EBRR program. The interaction with prerelease-custody timing is case-specific — run the numbers.
What happens if someone is expelled from RDAP?
Expulsion (for discipline or non-participation) forfeits the provisional § 3621(e) reduction, and the release date reverts to the non-RDAP computation. Re-admission is possible but not guaranteed.
Primary sources
Everything on this page is drawn from the statutes, regulations, and BOP program statements below — read them directly:
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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.