PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S1296-1297)
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Apr 20, 2023
Safer Detention Act of 2023
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. The early release pilot program 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,
expands eligibility to offenders who have served at least one-half (currently, two-thirds) of their prison term,
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 expands eligibility for the compassionate release process to prisoners sentenced before November 1, 1987. The compassionate release process authorizes federal courts to reduce a prisoner's sentence and impose a term of probation or supervised released in certain circumstances.
People & committees
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] · D–IL
Legislative record
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S1296-1297)
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Oct 20, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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Analyze S.1248 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
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