Watchdog Report Shows Bureau Of Prison Falling Short On First Step Act

BusinessPolicyWatchdog Report Shows Bureau Of Prison Falling Short On First Step ActByWalter Pavlo,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I am a consultant on white-collar crime and former convicted felon.Follow AuthorJun 08, 2026, 09:26am EDTTOPSHOT - US President Donald Trump receives applause after signing the "First Step Act" and the "Juvenile Justice Reform Act" at the White House in Washington, DC, on December 21, 2018. However, he has been frustrated by the lack of progress since its signing. An OIG report is critical of the Bureau of Prisons' efforts (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty ImagesThe First Step Act was passed in 2018 with rare bipartisan support and a clear promise. Reduce recidivism, expand rehabilitation, and lower the cost of incarceration. Congress backed that promise with billions in funding and an expectation that the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) would deliver measurable results.A newly released Department of Justice Office of Inspector General (OIG) report raises serious questions about whether that promise is being fulfilled. The findings point to systemic inefficiencies, questionable spending decisions, and structural barriers that continue to undermine the law’s core objectives.$1.23 Billion Spent Without Clear ResultsBetween fiscal years 2022 and 2024, Congress provided $1.23 billion specifically for First Step Act implementation. The expectation was to expand evidence-based programming and prepare incarcerated individuals for successful reentry. Instead, the OIG found that large portions of that funding were diverted into areas that do not clearly advance those goals.One of the most striking findings involves more than $258 million spent on inmate telephone access. While the law allows phone access as an incentive for participation in programming, the BOP provided free calls to all inmates regardless of participation. Even mo...