Passage of Second Chance Act Benefits Ex-Prisoners and Public Safety

"Compassion aside, public safety requires that we do something to make prisoners' transition to life outside prison more successful. This legislation will help do that." - Pat Nolan, Prison Fellowship

LANSDOWNE, Va., March 12, 2008—The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Second Chance Act of 2007, this month, a bill sponsored by a broad, bi-partisan coalition and supported by Prison Fellowship as a way to reduce recidivism and increase public safety. The landmark bill would authorize $362 million to improve the way our prisons prepare inmates to reenter society. The legislation was previously passed by the House by an overwhelming bi-partisan vote of 347-62.

The Second Chance Act of 2007 (H.R. 1593) will now be sent to the president's desk for his signature. President Bush asked Congress to pass this bill in his 2004 State of the Union address, when he said that "America is the land of the second chance, and when the gates of prison open, the path ahead should lead to a better life."

"Faith-based groups are eager to partner with the government to help ex-offenders with their transition to life on the outside-specifically in the five important areas covered in the Second Chance Act: jobs, housing, mental health and substance abuse treatment and strengthening families," said Mark Earley, president of Prison Fellowship.

Prison Fellowship Vice President Pat Nolan, an ex-offender himself who leads Prison Fellowship's criminal justice reform efforts, agreed.  "The passage of the Second Chance Act will give offenders a better chance to rebuild their lives and strengthen their families," he said.

"For 30 years our ministry has worked with prisoners and their families to transform their lives through the power of Jesus Christ. This bill not only makes religious and moral sense, it is also good public policy. Until now, two out of every three inmates released from prison over the last 20 years have been re-arrested within three years. Compassion aside, public safety requires that we do something to make prisoners' transition to life outside prison more successful. This legislation will help do that."

Prison Fellowship has worked on this legislation for four years as part of a diverse coalition of religious, civil rights and law enforcement groups. The Second Chance Act was sponsored by legislators from across the political spectrum, including Sens. Joseph Biden (D-DE), Sam Brownback (R-KS), Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Reps. Danny Davis (D-IL), Joe Pitts (R-PA), John Conyers (D-MI) and Mike Pence (R-IN).

The bill includes key elements of President Bush's Prisoner Reentry Initiative, which provides for community and faith-based organizations to deliver mentoring and transitional services. The bill will also help connect people released from prison and jail to mental health and substance abuse treatment, expand job training and placement services, and facilitate transitional housing and case management services.

For more information on the Second Chance Act, click here.

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