The Bureau of Prisons has a new compassionate release policy

The Bureau of Prisons replaced its compassionate release rules on September 3, 2026. The new policy, Program Statement 5050.51, has no 18-month life-expectancy rule.

What changed

• No 18-month rule. The old policy looked for a life expectancy of 18 months or less. The new one does not.
• Some family categories are gone from the BOP's list. The Bureau dropped its child-caregiver and spouse-caregiver categories, and the category for elderly people who had served a set part of their sentence.
• Halfway houses and home confinement. People there can apply.

What it means for your family

Family reasons can still go to the judge. The court looks at U.S.S.G. § 1B1.13(b)(3), which covers the death or incapacitation of a child's caregiver and the incapacitation of a spouse, partner or parent. You still ask the warden first and wait 30 days before going to court (18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A)).