Advocacy News
Our nation’s commitment to mass incarceration leaves many collateral consequences. To overcome those consequences, people should develop tools, tactics, and resources that will help them become better self-advocates. All justice-impacted people may want to learn more about why we need reforms to improve the outcomes of America’s criminal justice system and to help end the intergenerational cycles of recidivism, poverty, and homelessness.
Understanding Plea Agreements
| Number | Topic | Annotation | Updated |
| 25 | Calculating Time Credit | Policy Statements on Earned Time Credits Get the policy statement, the law, and the comments in the Federal Register on calculating Earned Time Credits | 03/02/23 |
| 24 | UC Hastings Law Review | Incentivizing Excellence Early advocacy toward the First Step Act required speaking out on the need for incentives. | 03/01/23 |
| 23 | Criminogenic Risks | Understand Criminogenic Risk Factors Learn how to incorporate criminogenic risk factors when preparing your release plan. Staff members will consider these factors. | 01/19/23 |
| 22 | File 2241 | Filing a 2241 Motion in Federal Court Learn how to file a motion under Title 28 Section 2241 if the BOP doesn’t calculate sentence correctly. | 01/15/23 |
| 21 | FSA Talking Points | Staff Talking Points on Earned Time Credits On January 1, 2023, the BOP will implement the auto-calculation to apply Earned Time Credits for people in federal prison. | 01/16/23 |
| 20 | FSA Policy Statement | Policy Statement on Earned Time Credits The Bureau of Prisons published a policy statement that governs earned time credits and their application. | 01/16/23 |
| 19 | PLRA | Understand the Prison Litigation Reform Act The Prison Litigation Reform Act requires people in federal prison to exhaust administrative remedies before they seek assistance in court. | 10/19/22 |
| 18 | Congressional Support | How to Get Congressional Support for Advocacy Efforts Get a template to help you solicit support from a member of Congress for advocacy efforts. | 10/18/22 |
| 17 | How to Advocate | What is Effective Advocacy in Federal Prison? Learn the importance of persistence when engineering an advocacy campaign from federal prison. | 10/17/22 |
| 16 | Earned Time Credit Memos | The BOP published Memorandums that may Confuse ETC The Earned Time Credits in the BOP can lead to people getting out earlier. As of today, the BOP does not have a policy we can review, and the memos can be confusing. | 10/15/22 |
| 15 | Pathway to Reform | Slow Methodical Plan to Prison Reform Influencing change in the Bureau of Prisons requires patience and a methodical plan. This article offers suggestions that may help advocacy efforts. | 10/13/22 |
| 14 | BOP Formulary | BOP Formulary and Healthcare Advocacy Understand the BOP Formulary, parts 1 and 2 if you’re preparing for a journey through the BOP. Learn how to self-advocate, relying upon outside resources. | 09/23/22 |
| 13 | Earned Time Credit Advocacy | Earned Time Credit Advocacy People in federal prison may qualify for time credits that can reduce their sentence or qualify them for release to home confinement sooner. Learn the process of advocating if things don’t go well. | 08/21/22 |
| 12 | Release Plans and Advocacy | Webinar Replay: Release Plans and Advocacy Improve advocacy efforts by understanding the importance that stakeholders place on release plans. | 07/29/22 |
| 11 | Disappointment | Coping with Disappointment as a Justice-Impacted Person Anyone going through any stage of the criminal justice system will confront disappointment. Learn how to overcome. | 07/25/22 |
| 10 | CARES Exception Request | Exception Request for Home Confinement under CARES Before submitting a request for an exception to guidelines under the CARES Act, make sure you understand the potential risks and rewards. | 07/01/22 |
| 9 | Mitigation Arc | Understand the Mitigation Arc Learn how decisions at every stage of the journey can open opportunities for mitigation, and for a better outcome. | 6/26/22 |
| 8 | Rule Change on Cares Act | Rule Change for CARES Act and Reentry The Attorney General has proposed a new rule that will broaden discretion for the BOP Director. Use this info for advocacy. | 6/24/22 |
| 7 | Proposed Rule on Home Confinement | Proposed Rule on Home Confinement and CARES Act The Attorney General proposed a new rule that would grant the Director of the Bureau of Prisons more discretion with home confinement. | 6/19/22 |
| 6 | CARES Act Memos | Get PDFs of BOP Memos pertinent to CARES Act The Bureau of Prisons releases Memorandums concerning the CARES Act. These Memorandums relate to transferring people to home confinement under guidelines and exceptions. | 01/20/23 |
| 5 | Administrative Remedy Process | Learn about the administrative remedy process in the Bureau of Prisons The administrative remedy process can be long and cumbersome. To increase chances for relief, make sure that you learn all the steps and deadlines. | 06/15/22 |
| 4 | DIY Workshop | Learn about our Self-Advocacy Workshop In collaboration with our sponsor, we’re creating a do-it-yourself self-advocacy workshop. No one should work harder than the individual to prepare for a successful outcome. | 6/15/22 |
| 3 | Making an Impact | Series of Videos Showing How to Make an Impact We distribute content to help people in jails and prisons across America. Learn from prison administrators and from people that served time to learn more about the impact we’re making. | 6/13/22 |
| 2 | NY Times Article | Do You Want to Serve Less Time in Prison? Title of New York Times article that featured the positive experience of one person who went through judicial proceedings and prepared in ways that led to a lower sentence. | 6/8/22 |
| 1 | Advocacy in Prisons | Testimonial Messages from CDCR participants This page includes testimonials from people that teach the Prison Professors curriculum in prisons, and from participants in the program. | 6/2/22 |
