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I'm sure you all have seen that video about marbles in a jar (about not wasting time on the small stuff, but making time for the big stuff first instead, which is so important. Time cannot be saved, or retrieved. When the day is over, it's over. The punishment of imprisonment is time; that is the punishment! Time is something we can never get back. Every holiday that we miss, every birthday, and every graduation that we miss is our punishment. The truly severe punishment is missing the death of a loved one.
This week is interesting time wise. Yesterday, (7/14/24) was the end of my week eight. 7/18/24 is day 60 and 7/20/24 is two months of my incarceration. Being here, I cannot help but track my time. Tracking, calculating, estimating... thank goodness I like numbers!
For my non-justice impacted readers and anyone else that is curious..I'll give a little rundown of how time works in the Bureau of Prisons (BOP). I will use my sentence as an example:
18 month sentence
-6 days served (arrest)
-81 days (good time credit)
= Projected Release Date 8/24/2025
Within 30 days of my arrival at my designated location, I received my first "teams" meeting. I arrived on 5/20/24 and my teams meeting was on 6/6/2024. There is a lot more to the teams meeting and admissions and orientation (A&O), but for now, we are just talking about the time calculation aspect.
So, now I have my "needs" analysis and my only need is Finance and Poverty. No drug and alcohol or criminal thinking, but ok, moving on. In 2018, the First Step Act (FSA) was signed in to law. FSA allows prisoners who meet the criteria to earn extra time off their sentence. I am FSA eligible. FSA is "earn as you go". So, when I requested my computation sheet on 7/3/24 and it said "ineligible", I freaked out a little tiny bit because I wouldn't be earning!!!. Thank God that my case manager "open house" was later that day, so I was able to meet with her that same day I found out I was ineligible! She advised, however, that this was "not a big deal" and "it would correct itself soon". And she was right! I was able to check with my counselor today (7/15/24) and it HAS been updated. Phew!
So, back to how FSA calculates. I've had my 1st teams meeting and enrolled in FSA "classes". I have taken "Embracing Interfaith" and "Talk to Your Doctor". I am presently on the waitlist to attend other classes. (There are other classes that I have taken, but they are not FSA classes. They are just things to keep me a little busy.)
On 7/3/24, I should have received my first 10 day FSA reduction, because I had my 1st teams meeting in June and took, or was waitlisted for, FSA classes. Since I was marked "ineligible" that didn't happen. But now, on August 3rd, 2024, or so, I should receive 20 days credit. (10 for June and 10 for July). CROSS YOUR FINGERS!
Now, here is where it gets fun!...
For the first six months, you earn 10 days a month and after that you start earning 15 days a month.
8/3 = 8/4/25 20 days
9/3 = 7/25/25 10 days
10/3 = 7/10/25 10 days
11/1 = 6/25/25 10 days
12/1 = 6/10/25 15 days
1/1 = 5/26/25 15 days
2/1 = 5/11/25 15 days
3/1 = 4/26/25 15 days
4/1 = 4/11/25 15 days
Unless you are less than a year from the door.
If you are less than a year from the door, your 2nd teams meeting is 90 days after your first one. So, right now, my 2nd teams meeting is scheduled for December. If it is moved to September (because my PRD will update to 8/4/25), that will put me less than a year from the door. If my 2nd teams is done in September, I will start earning my 15 days a month FSA credits. This only reduces my time by 15 extra days, but could get me moved to the halfway house/home confinement sooner.
I want everyone to know...I heard you... I heard your advice, your words of wisdom...
Mind your business!
You have ONE job in there:
To get out and come home.
With Grace, Dignity and Compassion,
Gina
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