The House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday approved a bill to make it easier for prisoners who have successfully completed their sentences to re-enter society, as part of its continued push for bipartisan criminal justice reform.
The legislation, dubbed the Second Chance Reauthorization Act, was passed by a voice vote and builds on the original legislation passed in 2008. It will continue to fund both public and private reentry programs, including academic and vocational education for offenders in prison, jails and juvenile facilities.
“Most of the people currently imprisoned will one day return to society, and it’s in all of our best interests to give these individuals a second chance and a hand up,” Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., chair of the subcommittee on crime, said in a press release.
“This legislation reduces prison costs, improves public safety and produces significant savings to the American taxpayers. It also successfully helps reintegrate inmates into their communities, making our nation safer and stronger,” he said.
The legislation also includes accountability measures and eliminates programs that have not been used.
“Statistics show that more than 90 percent of federal prisoners will eventually be released,” Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., chair of the Judiciary Committee, added in a release. “We must enact policies that enhance public safety by helping prisoners successfully reintegrate into society and restore their lives.”
The Leadership Conference of Civil and Human Rights, a coalition of more than 200 civil and human rights organizations, wrote a letter to the committee urging the legislation be passed.
“Research confirms that comprehensive, coordinated services can help formerly incarcerated individuals find stable employment and housing, thereby reducing recidivism. More importantly, by providing the resources needed for reentry services and policies, the Second Chance Reauthorization Act will continue to allow individuals to transition from prison to society successfully,” the coalition wrote.
According to the Leadership Conference, recidivism rates due to the challenges released prisoners face in reentry are currently at a high 43.3 percent.
