Michael Vick May Get a Year Knocked Off His Jail Sentence

By Jeralyn, Section Crime in the News
Posted on Mon Jan 07, 2008 at 02:34:54 AM EST
Tags: Michael Vick (all tags)

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Michael Vick has been transferred to the federal prison camp at Leavenworth, KS to enable him to participate in a drug treatment program which could knock a year off his 23 month sentence.

The Bureau of Prisons Residential Drug Abuse Program is a program available to all qualifying federal inmates with a drug problem.

An inmate must meet the following eligibility criteria to be admitted into RDAP: (1) sentenced to BOP custody, (2) determined by the BOP to have a substance abuse disorder, (3) sign BOP's "Agreement to Participate in the Bureau's Residential Drug Abuse Program," (4) reside in a BOP institution, (5) serving a sentence with enough time to fully participate in a residential drug abuse program, and (6) willing to participate in a residential drug abuse treatment program. Upon successful completion of RDAP, an inmate can receive a sentence reduction of up to 12 months, limited financial rewards, and additional privileges within the institution. If inmates fail to complete the program, they are ineligible to receive these incentives. Inmates are ineligible for the sentence reduction if their current or past criminal history includes a serious violent offense.

It's not only available at Leavenworth. In 2005, 18,027 male and female inmates participated in BOP’s residential drug abuse treatment programs.

We need more federal prisons to offer these programs, not outrage that Vick was allowed to participate in one.

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Michael Vick May Get a Year Knocked Off His Jail Sentence | 8 comments (8 topical)

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cynicism (none / 0) (#1)
by diogenes on Mon Jan 07, 2008 at 07:06:14 AM EST

Of course, if Michael Vick has such a serious drug problem then maybe he should have a year tacked on to his NFL ban. Also, people need to look at the NFL policy if it missed his "level" of drug use which allegedly was going on prior to his arrest.

: I don't believe for a second.... (5.00 / 1) (#4)
by kdog on Mon Jan 07, 2008 at 12:08:40 PM EST

that Michael Vick has a drug problem...unless enjoying reefer is a "drug problem".
That being said, if reefer can be used to drag people through the criminal justice muck, I see no problem with reefer being used to get people out of the muck.

Sportswriters shouldn't write about non-sports (none / 0) (#2)
by hkieffer on Mon Jan 07, 2008 at 07:15:26 AM EST

There is no program - as described - that is unique to the camp at Leavenworth, Kansas.

According to the locator, Michael Vick's projected release date is 7/20/2009. His sentence was 23 months.

FPC Leavenworth does have the Bureau of Prisons' Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP). RDAP is the ONLY program within the BOP that could possibly result in any time off. RDAP is offered at several facilities throughout the country.

Numerous inmates qualify and take this program. Not all get time off under 18 USC section 3621(e).

That said, I'm not sure how he gets to camp or gets a 3621(e) reduction because of the violence associated with his offense conduct. However, if he does complete RDAP and gets the reduction - he couldn't possibly get a year off. RDAP requires 9 months at the facility and another 6 in a CCC.

Although the public and the media may see a CCC as release, it is not - it is still BOP custody.

Accordingly, (best case scenario) if he started RDAP Feb 1, 2008 (which, IMHO, is unlikely) and got the 3621(e) reduction, he would go to a CCC no earlier than Nov. 1, 2008, and could not be released before May 1, 2009 - a benefit of just 2 months and 20 days.
---
Howard O. Kieffer
Federal Defense Associates
www.boplaw.com
hkieffer@dcounsel.com

Good News (none / 0) (#3)
by squeaky on Mon Jan 07, 2008 at 11:27:56 AM EST

Good for Michael Vick (none / 0) (#5)
by Blessed on Mon Jan 07, 2008 at 06:11:18 PM EST

Good for Michael he is getting the help he needs and since this is his first offense he should be able to get some time off his sentence we are not communist. At least I dont think we are.

What help? (none / 0) (#6)
by diogenes on Mon Jan 07, 2008 at 06:50:37 PM EST

If he has a diagnosis of cannibis or other drug dependence and flew under the NFL radar all these years, then the NFL has a problem.
I've seen many non drug-using dealers (they know enough not to use the stuff) who develop "diagnoses" when they're caught, and enter local drug courts instead of going to prison.

Michael Vick (none / 0) (#7)
by Jersey Sam on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 12:04:49 PM EST

Although I'm a big time animal lover Vick has suffered enough. He's financially ruined and no longer has that ability to make millions as he did in the NFL. If I'm not mistaken he will hit the job market without a degree and the "ex con status" thing hanging over his head. OUCH...

Michael Vick (none / 0) (#9)
by rickmoe on Fri Nov 14, 2008 at 07:57:38 PM EST

Enough already. Let him out so he can do what he was born to do.

Run Michael Run! Don't ever leave your dream.

Your one of the best. Get back out there and we will root you on.