AO 250

Motion for Sentence Reduction Under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A)

Agency
U.S. Courts
Revision
Rev. 09/24
Fillable fields
131
Pages
16
Official source
U.S. Courts form page
Checked
October 20, 2026
Fill AO 250 online
Page 1 of form AO 250

AO 250: Motion for Sentence Reduction Under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A)

AO 250, Motion for Sentence Reduction Under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A), is a 16-page motion form for a United States District Court that the form headers call Pro Se Motion for Compassionate Release. The caption marks it for a Pro Se Inmate. The U.S. Courts lists it under Criminal Forms, effective on September 1, 2020 and updated on September 1, 2024, and the edition printed on the form is Rev. 09/2024 (Rev. 09/24 on page 7).

The motion asks about sealing attachments, appointment of counsel, the sentence, exhaustion of administrative remedies, the grounds for release under the policy statement at §1B1.13 of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and earlier motions, and ends with a declaration under penalty of perjury. Three attachments follow: a proposed release plan, a cover page for medical records, and a cover sheet for additional information.

This page explains the form in plain words and is not legal advice. You can fill it out free in your browser on this page and download the result without an account.

Top of page 1 of AO 250: Motion for Sentence Reduction Under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A), as printed by COURTS

What's on AO 250

I and II: Sealing and counsel

Whether any attached documents should be filed under seal, a table of attachments with Attached? and Request to Seal? boxes, and a request for an appointed attorney.

III: Sentence information

Date of sentencing, term imposed, approximate time served, projected release date, length of supervised release, any appeal, and any order of deportation or ICE detainer.

IV: Exhaustion of administrative remedies

Whether a request went to the warden and on what date, why not if it did not, and whether the warden denied it. The form asks for copies of correspondence with the BOP.

V: Grounds for release

Part A asks about age 70, 30 years served and a BOP danger determination. Part B lists checkboxes citing §1B1.13(b), from medical conditions and age to family caregiving, abuse in custody and an unusually long sentence, then space to explain.

VI and VII: Earlier motions and signature

Any earlier motions under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A) in any court, whether any were granted, what has changed since, and the movant's declaration and signature.

Attachments 1 to 3

A proposed release plan (housing, employment and medical needs), a cover page for medical records and additional medical information, and a cover sheet for additional information, each with its own seal question and signature.

How to fill out AO 250

  1. 1

    Read the privacy notice

    The form cites Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 49.1: a filing may include only the last four digits of a social security number, the year of birth, a minor's initials and the last four digits of a financial account number.

  2. 2

    Fill in the caption

    Enter the district, the number of the criminal case and your full name where the form says to write it.

  3. 3

    List attachments and seal requests

    Mark each attachment as attached or not and whether it should be sealed. The form says the release plan, medical records and additional information are encouraged but not required.

  4. 4

    Give sentence and warden details

    Fill in Section III, then Section IV with the dates of any request to the warden and any denial, and include copies of written correspondence with the BOP.

  5. 5

    Check the grounds and explain

    The form says to select all grounds that apply, explain the basis below, and attach extra sheets or exhibits if needed. Confidential details may go on a separate page with a seal request in Section I.

  6. 6

    Sign and date

    Sign the declaration in Section VII. Each attachment used has its own declaration and signature block.

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Court, timing and sealing

Court

The form is captioned for a United States District Court, in the criminal case. A footnote says the form is only for a compassionate release motion made to the court, and a request to the BOP follows the BOP program statement.

Timing

The form says 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A) allows the motion after fully exhausting all administrative rights to appeal a failure of the BOP to bring a motion, or 30 days after the warden received the request, whichever is earlier.

Sealing

The form says documents filed under seal are not available to the public. If the court grants a seal request, they are placed in the electronic court files but not available to the public.

Fees

The form and its U.S. Courts page do not print a fee.

Format

The U.S. Courts page offers AO 250 as a 16-page PDF, updated on September 1, 2024.

Related forms

Who uses AO 250?

  • The incarcerated person filing pro se

    The caption says to write your full name and the number of your criminal case. Section VII is signed under penalty of perjury with the Federal Bureau of Prisons register number, facility and institution's address.

  • The warden

    Section IV asks whether the request for compassionate release was submitted to the warden of the institution and whether the warden denied it, with dates.

  • An appointed attorney

    Section II has a yes or no box to request that an attorney be appointed to help.

  • The court

    Section V says its questions are there so the court can determine eligibility under the statute. The court decides the motion.

  • U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services

    Attachment 1 says the release plan information will help the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office prepare for release if the motion is granted.

The form is written to the person bringing the motion. It names these people.

Official sources and the blank

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Questions about Form AO 250

Is AO 250 the same as a compassionate release request to the BOP?

No. A footnote says the requirements for the court motion differ from those for a request to the BOP, that this form is only for a motion made to the court, and that a request to the BOP follows the BOP program statement.

When does the form say the motion can be filed?

It says 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A) allows it after fully exhausting all administrative rights to appeal a failure of the BOP to bring a motion, or 30 days after the warden received the request, whichever is earlier.

Are medical records required?

The form says you are not required to provide medical records or the additional information, and that the proposed release plan is encouraged but not required.

Can some documents be kept from the public?

Yes, by request. Section I and each attachment ask whether documents should be filed under seal. The form says sealed documents are placed in the electronic court files but are not available to the public if the court grants the request.

Can I ask for a lawyer on this form?

Section II has a yes or no box for the request that an attorney be appointed to help.

What personal details does the form say to leave out?

The notice cites Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 49.1: no full social security number or full birth date, no full name of a person known to be a minor, and no complete financial account number. The release plan says to use only initials for anyone under 18.

Does AO 250 ask about earlier motions?

Yes. Section VI asks whether any earlier motions under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A) were filed in any court, whether any were granted, and what has changed since.