Click here for information on how local governments may apply for a Second Chance Grant
Click here for information on how non-profits may apply for a Second Chance Grant
House of Representatives passes Second Chance Act - 11/13/2007
Senate passes Second Chance Act - 3/11/2008
Sent to White House for signature of President - 3/11/2008
President signs Second Chance Act 4/9/2008
(for text, audio and video of signing click
here.
America Should Believe in a Second Chance
by Congressman Danny K. Davis
America has more of its people in prison than any other developed nation in
the world - more than two million. The vast majority, 95% of the men and women
in our prisons will eventually return to the community. That means that every
year more than 650,000 offenders are released from state and federal prisons
and return back to civilian life.
These men and women deserve a second chance. Their families, spouses and
children, deserve a second chance and their communities deserve a second
chance. A second chance means an opportunity to turn a life around. A chance
to break the grip of a drug habit. A chance to support a family, to pay taxes,
to be self-sufficient.
Today few of those who return to their communities are prepared for their
release or receive any supportive services. When the prison door swings open
an ex-offender may receive a bus ticket and spending money for a day or two.
Many leave prison to return to the same environment which saw them offend in
the first place. But, as they return they often face additional barriers to
reentry: serious physical and mental health problems, no place to stay and
lack of education or qualifications to hold a job. As a result two out of
three will be rearrested for new crimes within the first three years after
their release. Youthful offenders are even more likely to re-offend.
One third of all correction departments provide no services to released
offenders, and most departments do not offer a transitional program, placing a
heavy burden on families and communities. Considering the cost of
incarceration (as much as $40,000 per year) and all the social and economic
costs of crime to the community it's just common sense to act to help
ex-offenders successfully reenter our communities and reduce recidivism.
That's why I have sponsored the bipartisan
Second Chance Act of 2007 (HR1593)
along with Representatives Cannon, Conyers, Coble, Scott of Virginia, Smith of
Texas, Jones of Ohio, Forbes, Schiff, Sensenbrenner, Chabot, Jackson-Lee of
Texas, Cummings, Johnson of Georgia, Clarke and 75 other Members of Congress.
A companion bill (S1060) has been introduced into the Senate sponsored by
Senators Biden, Specter, Brownback, Leahy, Obama and 10 other Senators.
The Second Chance Act will provide transitional assistance to assist
ex-offenders in coping with the challenges of reentry. It will reduce
recidivism. It will help reunite families and protect communities. It will
enhance public safety and save taxpayer dollars. It is the humane thing to do.
It is the responsible thing to do. It is the right thing to do.
The Judiciary Committee held hearings on the bill in April 2007 and quickly
voted to send the bill to the full House. I fully expect it to pass very soon.
The bill has the support of more than 200 criminal justice, service provider,
faith based, housing, governmental, disability and civil rights organizations.
President Bush has signaled his support of the legislation as well.
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.
I am convinced that any serious effort to facilitate the reentry of men and
women with criminal records to civil society must be prepared do two things.
First, we must be prepared to help with drug treatment on demand for everyone
who requests it. Second, we need to find work for ex-offenders. Programs won't
supply jobs. After ex-offenders have undergone rehabilitation and received
appropriate training employers will have to open their hearts and put these
men and women back in the work force or they will surely and certainly end up
back in prison.
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