One of the biggest reasons we hear of inmates not receiving their First Step Act Credit is because of something called FRP refusal.
FRP stands for the Financial Responsibility Program. This is the program through which the Bureau of Prisons takes funds out of inmate’s commissary accounts, also known as their trust fund account, to pay back fines, fees, court costs, and restitution.
If an inmate’s monthly obligation for these costs is not available in their trust fund account on the date the money is pulled, they are put into “FRP Refusal Status.”
Once an inmate is in FRP Refusal, if they work, their pay will be reduced to maintenance pay. They could also face commissary restrictions and will not earn First Step Act Credits while in refusal status.
We had one client get denied 80 days of FSA credit while they were in FRP refusal. Sometimes inmates don’t even realize they’re in refusal status because they earn so little money while in prison, and otherwise don’t get money deposited into their trust fund account by family members.
Now, if an inmate has been making their FRP payments every month and are being told they’re in FRP refusal, we can help. Give us a call at 407-434-0175 10am – 10pm Monday through Saturday, and 12pm – 7pm on Sunday.