The Bureau of Prisons has a new compassionate release policy
The BOP's new Program Statement 5050.51 drops the 18-month rule and some family categories. Here is what changed for families.
News
Compassionate release news
Every article from the original site, at its original address. Case reports describe one court’s decision. Outcomes vary. A past result does not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other case. Articles written before May 28, 2026, describe the law as it stood then; each one has a box with today’s rules.
Supreme Court: Challenges to a Conviction Belong in § 2255, Not Compassionate Release
Fernandez v. United States holds that claims a conviction is invalid, including innocence-type arguments, are not extraordinary and compelling reasons.
Supreme Court: Non-Retroactive Sentencing Changes Can't Support Compassionate Release
In Rutherford v. United States, the Court held that a sentencing change Congress did not make retroactive cannot be an extraordinary and compelling reason.
Compassionate release trends in 2020: what the data shows
A 2021 Sentencing Commission report shows which federal districts granted and denied the most compassionate release motions in 2020.
Judge cuts 74.5-year stacked sentence to time served (2021)
In 2021, an Oklahoma federal judge reduced a man’s 894-month stacked sentence to time served, citing his rehabilitation and the sentence gap.
Outcomes vary. A past result does not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other case.
Judge grants release to 65-year-old man in wheelchair (2021)
In 2021, a Minnesota federal judge granted release to a 65-year-old man with diabetes and heart disease, under strict supervision terms.
Outcomes vary. A past result does not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other case.
Rehabilitation and health risks lead to release (2021)
A Connecticut federal judge released Joseph Reyes from a 300-month drug sentence, citing his rehabilitation, family support and COVID-19 risks.
Outcomes vary. A past result does not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other case.
Judge cuts 146-year sentence but denies release (2021)
A federal judge cut Estac Love’s 146-year sentence to 38 years in 2021 but denied immediate release, saying his rehabilitation was not yet strong enough.
Outcomes vary. A past result does not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other case.
Man with kidney disease freed over COVID risk (2021)
In 2021, a federal judge in Virginia granted compassionate release to Leonard Marshall, who had kidney disease and obesity, after 20 years in prison.
Outcomes vary. A past result does not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other case.
Judge cuts 57-year stacked sentence to time served (2021)
A Maryland federal judge cut a man’s 57-year stacked gun sentence to time served, about 21 years with good conduct credit, citing its length and his conduct.
Outcomes vary. A past result does not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other case.
Judge grants release so man can get cancer treatment (2021)
In 2021, an Ohio federal judge granted release to a man with aggressive lymphoma so he could get CAR T-cell therapy not available in prison.
Outcomes vary. A past result does not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other case.
Judge frees 66-year-old diabetic man from FCI Lompoc (2021)
A California federal judge freed a 66-year-old man with diabetes and other health risks from FCI Lompoc, citing poor COVID-19 conditions and his release plan.
Outcomes vary. A past result does not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other case.
Man with thyroid cancer granted compassionate release (2021)
A federal judge in Missouri released Gregory Hill, 57, so he could get cancer treatment outside prison. Here is how the court weighed his case.
Outcomes vary. A past result does not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other case.
Judge frees man early to attend son’s funeral (2021)
A federal judge in New York granted compassionate release to a man near the end of his sentence so he could attend his son’s funeral.
Outcomes vary. A past result does not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other case.
Judge cuts sentence in 1991 Boston bombing case (2021)
A federal judge in Massachusetts reduced Alfred Trenkler’s sentence to 41 years after he had served 28 years for a 1991 bombing. Here is why.
Outcomes vary. A past result does not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other case.
Release denied despite repeated requests (2021)
In 2021, a federal appeals court upheld the denial of compassionate release for a man with asthma, showing that filing more requests does not change the result.
Outcomes vary. A past result does not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other case.
Man with sex offense and cancer granted release (2021)
A federal judge in South Dakota granted compassionate release to a man serving 120 months for attempted enticement so he could get cancer care.
Outcomes vary. A past result does not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other case.
Judge dismisses release bid after man refused vaccine (2021)
A Georgia federal court dismissed a compassionate release motion because the man gave no evidence with his request and had refused a COVID-19 vaccine.
Outcomes vary. A past result does not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other case.
COVID-19 survivor with cancer granted release (2021)
A federal judge in California released David Lonich, 66, who has prostate cancer and had already survived COVID-19, to finish his sentence at home.
Fifth Circuit sends denied release request back (2021)
In 2021, the Fifth Circuit threw out a denial of compassionate release in United States v. Cooper and told the lower court to look again.
Guides
- How the First Step Act changed compassionate release
- Sample petition for a “New Law” elderly federal prisoner
- Compassionate release case studies: what helps and hurts
- Compassionate release denied? Common questions answered
- Who qualifies for federal compassionate release?
- Sample compassionate release letter for a terminal illness
- The cost of keeping elderly and sick people in prison
- Compassionate release examples and sample petitions
- Compassionate release FAQs: who qualifies and how to apply
- Compassionate release statistics: how many are approved?
- What the warden reviews in a compassionate release request
- How the BOP handles a compassionate release request
- How compassionate release has changed over the years
- Compassionate release statistics: how often the BOP said yes
- Child caregiver died or disabled: release FAQs
- Debilitated medical condition: compassionate release FAQs
- Release to care for a disabled spouse or partner: FAQs
- Compassionate release for elderly prisoners: FAQs
- Compassionate release for a terminal illness: FAQs
- Sample petition: release to care for a child (caregiver)
- Sample petition: debilitated medical condition
- When the BOP denies compassionate release
- Sample compassionate release letter for an older inmate
- Sample elderly compassionate release petition (2018)
- Do you need a lawyer for compassionate release? FAQs
- Compassionate release law and policy: common questions
- How not to seek compassionate release: a case study
- Sample release letter to care for a disabled spouse
- Six people denied compassionate release by the BOP
- Case study: woman with ALS granted compassionate release
- Federal compassionate release: background for reporters
- Compassionate release in federal prison: who qualifies