Do inmates need to apply for RDAP

Yes, even if RDAP is recommended in the sentencing documents, the inmate still needs to actively request and go through the application process once they arrive at their designated facility.

After intake and orientation within the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the inmate will meet with their:

• Counselor
• Case manager
• Unit team

Those staff members will already have access to the PSR (Pre-Sentence Report) and any recommendations from the judge, including RDAP.

What the inmate needs to do:

• Let staff know they want to be considered for RDAP
• Submit a request, often called a “cop-out”, to the RDAP coordinator
• Complete an interview and screening process

How approval works:

• The facility reviews eligibility
• Final approval for early release benefits is handled at the national level
• Eligibility depends on factors like substance abuse history and no disqualifying violence or weapons

Timing:
RDAP usually starts when the inmate is within about 24 to 27 months of release. If they are too early in their sentence, they are placed on a waitlist until they are closer to that window.

So the recommendation helps, but it is not automatic. The inmate must follow through and formally apply to get into the program.