Advocating for the Second Chance Act

LAC played a critical role in ensuring the 2008 passage of the Second Chance Act, historic legislation that authorizes grants to states and localities to begin to address the need for drug and mental health treatment, job training and education opportunities, and housing, as well as other critical services for individuals when they return to the community from incarceration. The programs authorized by the Second Chance Act will help reduce recidivism and better coordinate reentry services and policies at the federal, state and local levels to make the most of government investments. Allowable uses of funds include mentorship, housing, education and job training, engagement with community colleges, family programming, initiatives addressing victim priorities and restorative justice, research to improve the effectiveness of release and revocation decisions using risk assessment tools, and reentry court programs. Click here for a one-pager on the Second Chance Act

LAC Director/President Paul N. Samuels at the press conference celebrating passage of the Second Chance Act in 2008.

2011

Sept. 22: Action Alert! Congress is working now to decide on funding for the 2012 fiscal year, which begins on October 1. In a potential blow for reentry programs across the country, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a bill last week that would eliminate funding for the Second Chance Act in FY 2012. For its part, the House version of the legislation, approved this summer, would provide $70 million for the Second Chance Act in FY12.

Congressional leaders will be meeting over the coming weeks to come to agreement on funding levels, and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy has pledged to work to restore Second Chance Act funding through the conference process. That's why we need your help now; Call your senators and representatives and ask them to restore funding for this critical legislation! Follow this link for the full alert.

June 24: Action Alert! The Second Chance Act is up for reauthorization! LAC and SAAS worked to pass this historic legislation in 2008 to help address the needs of people returning home from incarceration. Legislation to reauthorize it was introduced in the U.S. Senate in late June, but bi-partisan co-sponsors are needed to move it along in the legislative process. Follow this link for an LAC alert on the Second Chance Reauthorization Act (S. 1231).

2008

Signed Into Law: Public Law 110-199 was signed into law by President Bush on April 9, 2008.  The Second Chance Act authorizes grants to States and localities to begin to address the need for drug and mental health treatment, job training and education opportunities, and housing, as well as other critical services for individuals when they return to the community from incarceration.  The programs authorized by the Second Chance Act will help reduce recidivism and better coordinate reentry services and policies at the federal, state and local levels to make the most of government investments. Allowable uses of funds include mentorship, housing, education and job training, engagement with community colleges, family programming, initiatives addressing victim priorities and restorative justice, research to improve the effectiveness of release and revocation decisions using risk assessment tools, and reentry court programs.

Celebrating Passage:On March 13, 2008, LAC was among the supporters of the Second Chance Act who gathered at a press conference hosted by Congressman Danny Davis (D-IL) to celebrate passage of the Second Chance Act. Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH) also attended to show her support for the Second Chance Act.  Representatives from several national groups, including Paul Samuels of LAC, commended the Congress for their work on the Second Chance Act over the past few years.