Non Residential Drug Abuse Program: Spend a little less time in federal prison?
If you are reading this blog, you may be coming to Federal prison or you may have a loved one in Federal prison. Once an individual enters federal prison, his focus shifts to when he or she is going to get out of prison. Based upon my own experience, the ability to shorten your prison stay, by even a month, is very appealing. I recently discovered a Bureau of Prisons Policy that may assist an individual in shortening their stay by several months. ( funny, my lawyers never mentioned this policy to me?). Fortunately, my prison consultant Justin Paperny did.
Non Residential Drug Abuse Program
The Bureau of Prisons offers a non-residential drug and alcohol program through it's psychology departments at most prisons.
This program is open to any prisoner and the prisoner does not have to introduce any evidence of a drug or alcohol problem. The program meets once a week for approximately 40 weeks. (It's nickname is the 40 hour program). The external incentive for taking this program (as opposed to the intrinsic benefit) is the potential to receive a recommendation for maximum RRC (halfway house) time.
"RESIDENTIAL REENTRY CENTER (RRC) PLACEMENT. Each warden IS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPROVE INMATES WHO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE NON-RESIDENTIAL DRUG ABUSE PROGRAM FOR THE MAXIMUM PERIOD OF RRC PLACEMENT."
See BOP policy number 2.4.8 (b). Beware, I am told that some federal prisons do not follow this policy statement.
Accordingly, I would meet with the head of psychology at your prison and inquire if they follow this BOP policy before you enroll and start planning your early exit from prison. Also, it is imperative that you complete the program at least 18 months prior to your projected release date because that is when your unit team will be submitting your halfway house package. If you have not completed the program by that date, you will not be able to take advantage of the incentive offered under the policy.
Any federal prisoner should consider the 40 hour program.
It is a a small sacrifice to make for the ability to get home to your family 30, 60 or 90 days sooner than anticipated. I learned of the 40 hour program too late and I was unable to take advantage of the incentives. I hope someone else can take advantage this policy.
Counting days,
Ken Flaska
