Sentencing Advocacy Group · Federal planning tools

RDAP Guide & Preparation Check

Separate treatment admission from early-release eligibility and organize the records to discuss.

Prepare for the RDAP assessment

Treatment admission and a sentence reduction are different decisions. This checklist identifies questions to resolve; it does not award eligibility.

What needs to be established

RDAP admission requires a verifiable substance-use disorder, agreement to program responsibilities and the ability to complete the required components. The Drug Abuse Program Coordinator determines placement. Prepare accurate records; never invent or exaggerate substance use.

Successful completion includes a unit-based component lasting at least six months, follow-up when appropriate, and required community treatment. A qualifying participant may receive up to 12 months of early release, but BOP separately evaluates exclusions and the amount available. The program is not an automatic one-year reduction.

Early-release exclusions include specified current offenses, certain prior convictions within the regulatory lookback period, and other categories in §550.55. An inability to receive that incentive is not itself a clinical assessment of treatment needs. Ask BOP about available treatment.

What should I collect before surrender?

Organize accurate clinical records, the PSR, judgment and treatment history for appropriate professional review. Protect sensitive documents and share them only through an agreed secure process. Discuss factual PSR issues promptly with counsel.

Sources & methodology

Source review: September 24, 2026. Check the linked official rules for updates and case-specific requirements.

From information to preparation

What does this mean for your situation?

A tool can organize a question. A defined engagement addresses the record, the next deadline and the work your circumstances require. Work directly with Joseph De Gregorio on sentencing preparation, pre-surrender planning or post-sentencing support.

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SAG provides consulting and preparation services, not legal representation. Legal advice and court filings require qualified counsel. No outcome is guaranteed.

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These educational tools do not determine eligibility, predict a judge’s decision or replace the Bureau of Prisons’ official computation. Your tool inputs are processed in this page; this tool does not send the answers to SAG or add them to its analytics events.