On April 9th, President Bush signed into law the Second Chance Act, legislation that will help States and localities better address the needs of individuals reentering the community from the criminal justice system. The President stated that "the country was built on the belief that each human being has limitless potential and worth. Everybody matters. We believe that even those who have struggled with a dark past can find brighter days ahead. One way we act on that belief is by helping former prisoners who've paid for their crimes -- we help them build new lives as productive members of our society." To read the complete presidential signing statement, click here.
The Second Chance Act, now Public Law 110-199, was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives in November of last year by a bi-partisan 347 to 62 vote. The U.S. Senate passed the legislation in March by unanimous consent. Chief sponsors Congressmen Danny Davis (D-IL), Chris Cannon (R-UT) and 14 additional bi-partisan Members introduced the House version of the Second Chance Act, H.R. 1593; and Senators Joe Biden (D-DE), Arlen Specter (R-PA), Sam Brownback (R-KS), and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) introduced S. 1060, the Senate version of the Second Chance Act.
The centerpiece of the Second Chance Act is the reauthorization of a Department of Justice (DOJ) grant program for people returning to the community from incarceration. The Second Chance Act authorizes $55 million for grants to States and local areas to create or strengthen the systems that help adults and youth transition into the community when they are released from incarceration by providing drug and mental health treatment, job training and education opportunities, housing and other necessary services. For a complete overview of the Second Chance Act, click here.
We would like to thank our membership for advocating in support of this important piece of legislation. Many of you contacted your federal legislators individually and even organized advocacy campaigns within your respective states to support the Second Chance Act, which played a major role in making this possible.
NEXT STEPS: ADVOCATING FOR FUNDING
The Second Chance Act authorizes $320 million in grant programs for the next two fiscal years. However, no funds have been allocated for the programs authorized in the Second Chance Act. Funding must be secured through the annual appropriations process currently underway in Congress. HIRE will send out alerts during the next few weeks to encourage you to contact your Congressional Members about funding the Second Chance Act. Please look out for these FUNDING ALERTS!!!
For more information on advocacy efforts to secure funding for the Second Chance Act, please contact Gabrielle de la Gueronniere (gdelagueronniere@lac-dc.org) or Nisha Thakker (nthakker@lac.org) at the HIRE Network, 236 Massachusetts Avenue NE Suite 505, Washington DC 20002 (202) 544-5478.
Best Regards,
April Frazier, Esq.
Deputy Director