Congress Approves Legislation Giving ‘Second Chance’ To Former Inmates

After three years of effort by Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.), who championed the bill in the House of Representatives, the Second Chance Act was received with bipartisan support in both chambers. Sens. Joseph Biden (D-Del.), Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), and Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) introduced and shepherded the bill through the Senate.

State and local governments would play a large role in this effort, if it is funded, with $362 million authorized over Fiscal Years 2009 and 2010 for competitive grants up to $500,000 in matching funds for community-based programs. The bill also provides $20 million over the same time for the Bureau of Prisons to run similar initiatives in preparation for a prisoner’s re-entry to society.

Upon introducing the bill, Davis said, “No single piece of legislation is going to solve the reentry crisis we are facing, but the Second Chance Act is a good start. I hope that, with the passage of this bill, we will begin a new era in criminal justice.”

James Mitchell Jr., president of NLC's National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (NBC-LEO), said, “It’s good to see bipartisan support from Congress on this issue, and we hope the President will follow suit.”

NBC-LEO has been a strong advocate of providing resources to former inmates as they reenter communities as part of any comprehensive crime intervention, prevention and law enforcement effort.

Although Mitchell applauded the passage, he cautioned that “Congress can’t just announce good intentions; it has to appropriate funds to make the difference.” 

Since 2000, funding for critical law enforcement and prevention programs have been slashed by almost $1.5 billion. With a showdown on spending looming, spending for new programs will be scarce.

Nationwide, the rate of imprisonment has surpassed one in 100 American adults, catching the attention and concern of many members of Congress and NLC. Creating a smooth transition back to society is a priority for cities and towns across the nation. With national statistics showing 66 percent of released inmates committing a crime or violating their release within three years, Congress has shown a strong interest in providing greater resources and support to ex-offenders. 

“The Second Chance Act will go a long way to help these ex-offenders reintegrate into the community and become productive, contributing members of our community,” said Biden. “Congress has passed this critical legislation, and I hope the President quickly signs it into law. The only way to close the revolving prison door is to open another one.” 

Along with the humanity towards ex-offenders inherent in the bill, it also provides benefits to the entire community and society as a whole. For instance, the Pew Charitable Trusts released a study in 2007 estimating taxpayers are expected to pay as much as $27.5 billion on prisons alone from 2007 to 2011 on top of current corrections spending.

“I commend my colleagues for passing this important legislation,” said Specter. “The Second Chance Act takes direct aim at reducing recidivism rates by improving the transition of ex-offenders from prison back into our communities. Through common sense and cost-effective measures, it offers a second chance for ex-offenders and the children and families who depend on them.”

“In recent years, this Congress and the states have passed a myriad of new criminal laws creating more and longer sentences for more and more crimes” said Leahy. “As a result, this country sends more and more people to prison every year. There are currently more than two million people in jail or prison, and there are more than 13 million people who spend some time in jail or prison each year. Most of these people will at some point return to our communities. What kind of experience inmates have in prison, how we prepare them to rejoin society and how we integrate them into the broader community when they get out are issues that profoundly affect the communities in which we live.”

"I am pleased that my Senate colleagues were able to pass legislation that will help combat the high rates of prisoner recidivism in America," said Brownback. "Everybody — the ex-offender, the ex-offender’s family, and society at large — benefits from programs that equip prisons with the proper tools to successfully reintegrate individuals into life outside of the prison walls."