A year after the First Step Act, Congress can do more for criminal justice reform

Published December 26, 2019 4:19pm ET



It was just last December that law enforcement leaders, religious leaders, members of Congress, and criminal justice reform groups across the political spectrum came together to watch President Trump sign the First Step Act into law. The most comprehensive federal criminal justice reform legislation in a generation, thousands of individuals have already benefited as a result of its passage. And the lives of hundreds of thousands more stand to improve in the years to come.

The First Step Act reminded us that bipartisan criminal justice reform is possible even during such divisive times. As this year comes to a close, it’s time for lawmakers to take another step toward comprehensive criminal justice reform by reinstating Pell Grants for prisoners.

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