Spotlight Announcement

1/31/2006: Senate Leaders Introduce Second Chance Act of 2005

 

The Second Chance Act of 2005, federal legislation designed to promote safe and successful prisoner reentry, was introduced in the U.S. Senate on Friday, October 28. The bill, S1934, was introduced by Senate Judiciary Chair Arlen Specter (R-PA), along with Senators Joe Biden (D-DE), Sam Brownback (R-KS), and enjoys bipartisan support from additional co-sponsors, including Senators James Talent (R-MO), Mike DeWine (R-OH), Jon Corzine (D-NJ), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Rick Santorum (R-PA), and Barack Obama (D-IL).

The provisions of the Second Chance Act include, among others:

• Authorization of reentry demonstration and mentoring grants to states;
• Creation of a federal reentry taskforce; and
• Establishment of a national reentry resource center.

Click here to see the text of the Second Chance Act of 2005 as introduced in the Senate.

Companion legislation (HR1704) has already been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, where the bill will receive a hearing before the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security on Thursday, November 3.

Click here to see the text of the bill as introduced in the House of Representatives.

Click here to see streaming video of the hearings (9:30 a.m., November 3).

In his testimony introducing the bill, Senator Specter noted that "there is ample evidence that well-designed reentry programs reduce recidivism…These programs pay for themselves by reducing future correction costs associated with re-housing these individuals upon their return back into the institution."

Senator Biden followed, stating, "It's time we face the dire situation of prisoners reentering our communities with insufficient monitoring, little or no job skills, inadequate drug treatment, insufficient housing, lack of positive influences, a paucity of basic physical and mental health services, and deficient basic life skills. The bill we introduce today is about providing a second chance for these ex-offenders, and the children and families that depend on them. It's about strengthening communities and ensuring safe neighborhoods."

Senator Brownback, the final speaker, concluded his remarks by saying, "we have an incredible opportunity to re-shape the way in which this nation's prison systems operate…we have a chance to make real and effective change in an area where change is sorely needed."