COVID–19 Safer Detention Act of 2021

To expand eligibility for and provide judicial review for the Elderly Home Detention Pilot Program, provide for compassionate release based on COVID–19 vulnerability, shorten the waiting period for judicial review during the COVID–19 pandemic, and make other technical corrections. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the COVID–19 Safer Detention Act of 2021 2. Definition of covered emergency period Section 12003(a)(2) of the CARES Act ( 18 U.S.C. 3621 (1) by striking ending on the date ending on the later of— (A) the date ; (2) in subparagraph (A), as so designated, by striking the and or (3) by adding at the end the following: (B) the date that is 30 days after the date on which the Bureau of Prisons ceases modified operations in response to COVID–19; and . 3. Home detention for certain elderly nonviolent offenders Section 231(g) of the Second Chance Act of 2007 ( 34 U.S.C. 60541(g) (1) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following: (D) Judicial review (i) In general Upon motion of a defendant, on or after the date described in clause (ii), a court may reduce an imposed term of imprisonment of the defendant and substitute a term of supervised release with the condition of home detention for the unserved portion of the original term of imprisonment, after considering the factors set forth in section 3553(a) of title 18, United States Code, if the court finds the defendant is an eligible elderly offender or eligible terminally ill offender. (ii) Date described The date described in this clause is the earlier of— (I) the date on which the defendant fully exhausts all administrative rights to appeal a failure of the Bureau of Prisons to place the defendant on home detention; or (II) the expiration of the 30-day period beginning on the date on which the defendant submits to the warden of the facility in which the defendant is imprisoned a request for placement of the defendant on home detention, regardless of the status of the request. ; and (2) in paragraph (5)— (A) in subparagraph (A)(ii)— (i) by inserting including offenses under the laws of the District of Columbia, offense or offenses, (ii) by striking 2/3 of the term of imprisonment to which the offender was sentenced 1/2 of the term of imprisonment reduced by any credit toward the service of the offender’s sentence awarded under section 3624(b) of title 18, United States Code (B) in subparagraph (D)(i), by inserting , including offenses under the laws of the District of Columbia, offense or offenses, 4. Compassionate release technical correction Section 3582 of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (c)(1)— (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting after case , including, notwithstanding any other provision of law, any case involving an offense committed before November 1, 1987 (B) in subparagraph (A)— (i) by inserting , on or after the date described in subsection (d) upon motion of a defendant (ii) by striking after the defendant has fully exhausted all administrative rights to appeal a failure of the Bureau of Prisons to bring a motion on the defendant’s behalf or the lapse of 30 days from the receipt of such a request by the warden of the defendant’s facility, whichever is earlier, (2) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections (e) and (f), respectively; and (3) by inserting after subsection (c) the following: (d) Date described For purposes of subsection (c)(1)(A), the date described in this subsection is the earlier of— (1) the date on which the defendant fully exhausts all administrative rights to appeal a failure of the Bureau of Prisons to bring a motion on the defendant’s behalf; or (2) the expiration of the 30-day period beginning on the date on which the defendant submits a request for a reduction in sentence to the warden of the facility in which the defendant is imprisoned, regardless of the status of the request. . 5. Temporary shortening of administrative exhaustion Section 12003 of the CARES Act ( 18 U.S.C. 3621 (e) Compassionate release For purposes of a motion filed under section 3582(c)(1) of title 18, United States Code, during the covered emergency period— (1) the 30-day waiting period requirement in section 3582(d)(2) shall be reduced to not more than 10 days; and (2) in the case of a defendant who is, according to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, considered to be at a higher risk for severe illness from COVID–19, including because the defendant is 60 years of age or older or has an underlying medical condition, such risk shall be considered to be an extraordinary and compelling reason under subparagraph (A)(i) of such section 3582(c)(1). (f) Nonviolent elderly offenders For the purpose of a motion filed under subparagraph (D) of section 231(g)(1) of the Second Chance Act of 2007 ( 34 U.S.C. 60541(g)(1) .

Summary: COVID-19 Safer Detention Act of 2021 This bill expands statutory authority for federal prisoners to be released before completing their sentences or to be placed in the community to serve the final portion of their sentences. First, the bill makes changes to the early release pilot program which authorizes the Bureau of Prisons to release early and place on home confinement elderly offenders and terminally ill offenders who meet eligibility criteria. This bill expands eligibility to offenders serving time for an offense under the laws of the District of Columbia, reduces the amount of time an offender must serve by the good time credits earned by the offender, and creates a judicial review process for prisoners. Second, the bill modifies the compassionate release process which authorizes federal courts to reduce a prisoner's sentence and impose a term of probation or supervised released in certain circumstances. This bill expands eligibility to prisoners sentenced before November 1, 1987; and specifies that vulnerability to COVID-19 is a basis for compassionate release. Regarding the judicial review of these release authorities, the bill also (1) authorizes federal courts to appoint counsel to assist defendants, (2) applies statutory rights for crime victims to these proceedings, and (3) shortens the waiting period during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the bill requires the Government Accountability Office to study postrelease, probation, and pretrial services, including recent changes. Finally, the bill directs the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to request resources to address staffing needs in each judicial district, including resources that may be necessary as a result of this bill.