# First Step Act

> Signed bipartisan criminal-justice reform reducing some mandatory minimums, expanding earned time credits, and making the 2010 Fair Sentencing Act…

Donald Trump · Justice & Civil Liberties · Legislation · Dec 21, 2018
Official record: https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/data-sentencing-reform-shows-first-step-act-worked

## What happened

Signed bipartisan criminal-justice reform reducing some mandatory minimums, expanding earned time credits, and making the 2010 Fair Sentencing Act retroactive.

## How it happened

Passed Congress with broad bipartisan majorities and signed December 21, 2018.

## Documented impact

- [positive / substantiated] Thousands of prisoners released or resentenced, with lower recidivism. — In year one, >3,000 were released via recalculated good-time credits and >2,000 benefited from retroactive sentencing; the Council on Criminal Justice found recidivism 37% lower among those released under the Act.

## Sources

- [Brennan Center: data shows First Step Act worked](https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/data-sentencing-reform-shows-first-step-act-worked)
- [BOP overview](https://www.bop.gov/inmates/fsa/overview.jsp)

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Canonical: https://eo.alanwizemann.com/eo/trump/first-step-act