The First Step Act (FSA) of 2018
represents one of the most significant bipartisan efforts to reform federal
sentencing and correctional practices in the United States. This study examines
the Act’s effectiveness in reducing recidivism through evidence-based
programming, earned time incentives, and algorithmic risk assessments. Drawing
from Bureau of Justice Statistics, Department of Justice, and Council on
Criminal Justice data (2018–2024), the analysis integrates theoretical
perspectives from rehabilitation and implementation science with empirical
outcomes across Federal Bureau of Prisons institutions. Findings reveal modest
but meaningful declines in five-year recidivism rates—from 43% in 2017 to
approximately 36% by 2024—among inmates who completed First Step Act programs.
However, disparities in institutional capacity, implementation fidelity, and
algorithmic equity constrain the Act’s impact. The paper concludes that the FSA
has initiated an important paradigm shift toward rehabilitative correctional policy
but requires continued investment, transparency, and ethical oversight to
achieve long-term sustainability and legitimacy in federal reform efforts.
