S. 1060 would reauthorize the grant program for reentry of offenders into the community in the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, and it would improve reentry planning and implementation.
Detailed Summary
Recidivism Reduction and Second Chance Act of 2007 or the Second Chance Act of 2007 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to reauthorize, rewrite, and expand provisions for adult and juvenile offender state and local reentry demonstration projects to provide expanded services to offenders and their families for reentry into society.
Directs the Attorney General to award grants for: (1) state and local reentry courts; (2) Comprehensive and Continuous Offender Reentry Task Forces; (3) pharmacological drug treatment services to incarcerated offenders; (4) technology career training for offenders; and (5) mentoring services for reintegrating offenders into the community.
Amends the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 to require the Secretary of Education to establish a program for education and employment counseling for youth offenders.
Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants for: (1) the establishment of a National Adult and Juvenile Offender Reentry Resource Center; (2) drug treatment programs as an alternative to imprisonment; (3) evaluation of methods to improve academic and vocational education for incarcerated offenders; (4) demonstration programs to reduce the use of alcohol and other drugs in long-term substance abusers; (5) incentive grants to improve drug treatment to offenders in prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities; (6) pharmacological drug treatment services to incarcerated offenders; (7) prison-based family treatment programs for incarcerated parents of minor children; and (8) a study of parole or post-incarceration supervision violations and revocations.
Requires the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to establish: (1) a prisoner reentry program; and (2) a pilot program for the release of elderly nonviolent offenders (age 60 or older).
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 8/2/2007: Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on the Judiciary. Date of scheduled consideration. SD-226. 11:30 a.m.
Points in Favor
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Points Against
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Visitor Comments
dom
did the bill for early out pass?
Pat (howie)
This needs to be passed. People who are nonviolent offenders need a second chance.
Jean Griggs
I don't understand why this kind of a bill doesn't have some kind of priority. It is time that we start thinking of the one parent families in this country, and this is a big part of it. Fathers especially are put in prison for most of their lives. I'm afraid that it will just make children grow up and be resentful for the government taking thier father away for most of the childs growing up years. We need to take a second look and do something about it. The amount of money it takes to keep men and women locked up, when they could come out and be good citizens. They could pay taxes and be back with their children. That is the normal way of life, not what is happening. I hope all of you will pray for some understanding and pass this bill and let these parents enter back into society.
Thank you
Jean Griggs
Edy
The Bill passed 11/13/2007. The House bill authorizes up to $55 million dollars in grants to state and local governments to develop reentry initiatives to help keep people released from prisons and jails from re-offending and a $15 million reentry program for community and faith-based organizations to deliver mentoring and transitional services.
M. MATTOX
IF THIS BILL HAS BEEN PASSED, WHY HAVEN'T WE SEEN SOME ACTION? GET THESE ELDERLY NONVIOLENT OFFENDERS HOME WHERE THEY BELONG. AS A MATTER A FACT, NO MATTER WHAT AGE, NONVIOLENT OFFENDERS DESERVE A SECOND CHANCE TO BE WITH THIER FAMILIES AND A CHANCE TO PROVE THEMSELVES. HALF OF THEM INCARCERATED ARE THERE BECAUSE OF RATS THAT ARE STILL OUT, SAVING THEMSELVES AND THE PROSECUTORS DON'T CARE AS LONG AS THEY GET THIER CONVICTION.
gloria
the need is so strong for this piece of legislation that i cannot .STOP BUILDING NEW PRISONS,SINCE THE RATE OF RECIDIVISM SHOWS IT NOT THE ANSWER, AND START BUILDING UP THE OFFENDERS RETURNING TO THE COMMUNITIES. GIVE THE COMMUNITIES THE MONEY THAT IS WASTED ON OFFENDERS GOING BACK AND FORTH TO PRISON. GIVE THE COMMUNITIES THE AID NEEDED TO HELP THEIR RESIDENTS TO BECOME RESPECTED MEMBERS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES. WATCH AND SEE THE DIFFERENCE!!! PASS THE BILL PEOPLE. STOP TALKING ABOUT IT AND BE ABOUT IT!!
Teresa
I am so glad that the "Second Chance Law" has passed. It has been needed for so long. But I have been looking everywhere on the internet and I see nothing about this law including non violent sex offenders. Does this law include them. For non violent/first offense offenders I truly believe this law should include them
michelle
i hope this law did pass already because these people really need a second chance.lives are being destoyed,they are taking fathers away from their children with no remorse what so ever is this the kind of society we live in???? let's start building lives not destroying them. i do have one question which i hope is not true, does the reduction of 65% only apply to elderly people not that i don't think the law shouldn't apply to elderly people, BUT it is not fair if doesnt apply to other first time offenders i would appreciate if someone could let me know if this is true...alot of first time offenders have there heart set on doing 65% of there time instead of 85%
melinda
this bill has passed the house, but not the senate. even if it passes the senate,it will not get federal inmates home any sooner. a bill re-instating federal parole is the only thing that will bring men and women home sooner.
Missi
My children need their father. He is a good man, never been in trouble. These were non-violent, non drug charges. He's already spent 3+ years under house arrest before he finally settled on their plea "bargain". He is an awesome husband, father, and citizen. MY CHILDREN deserve a SECOND chance. Please, broken homes don't help our society at all.
KIM
WHEN IS IT GOING TO GOINTO AFFECT? MY KIDS NEED THEIR FATHER HOME. I HAVE BOYS AND THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH I CAN DO , BUT THEY NEED THE GUIDANCE OF THEIR FATHER. TO BUILD THEM UP TO BE A GOOD MAN IN TODYA'S SOCIETY. I NEED MY MAN HOME SO WE CAN BEGIN LIVING AS A FAMILY AGAIN
latasha
The law should pass because, there are some inmates that's incarcerated because of other people mistakes. What if a inmate has a serious illness like diabetes or cancer that needs special attention all the time to where you have to keep monitoring the inmate, remember there are other inmates that needs your attention also, so you treat one inmate, but forgot about the inmate that needs special attention, that inmate calaspes and dead and gone, who's the blame, is it the doctor or the inmate you treated while you was suppose to pay close attention to the inmate that needed special attention. Try to prevent things that can be prevented. Pass the law please. Get the sick inmates home and take care of the non-sickly inmates.
Hope
What's taking so long for this to pass? How long does it take for the senate to review, and make a decision on this. There are a lot of people ready to start over, get better jobs, and I am One of them. I pay my taxes and work 40hrs every week. Please someone give answers. I didn't even do jail time, and I have a felony.
Faith
Does anyone know if this bill will increase the age of eligibility, from 26 to 35, for incarcerated college students who qualify to take free college classes?
mary mattox
Thank you Congress!!!! This bill passed congress March 12. All we need now is for President Bush to sign it into law. Hurry Bush! Hurry!!
Mary Mattox
THANK YOU CONGRESS! THIS BILL WAS PASSED MARCH 12TH. ALL WE NEED IS FOR PRESIDENT BUSH TO SIGN. GET YOUR PEN ON THE PAPER MR. PRESIDENT. PLEASE!
MARY MATTOX
SORRY I MADE A MISTAKE. THIS BILL HAS NOT BEEN PASSED BY CONGRESS. IT WAS HR 1593.
HOPE
THANK YOU GOD!!!,THANK YOU CONGRESS! GOD: GIVE THEM THE NEXT PUSH TO SIGN THIS LAW AND CONVERT THIS IN A REALITY.
Susan
It is unbelievable how long it takes to start implementing a law. And this started out to cover men 45 years and older. What happened? If they are over 60 yrs. old, most likely it is NOT their first offense so it will not apply to them. I watched Congress constantly when they were in session (and got a good history lesson in the process). I watched as they took constant breaks and wasted an huge part of time (and money). We as voters should never vote for an incumbent again.
P L
this bill does include federal offenders...my boyfriend is in federal prison for 21 months for a non violent crime that is also his first offence. i check everyday to see if the bill has passed. I thought that if the president didnt touch the bill for 10 days after it passed the senate that it would automatically become a law. what happened with that? does anyone know anything about what is happening now with this bill???
rose-adams mom
it passed now awaiting, Mr. Bush's signature. however, does it do any good for non-violent offenders? even if they are first time non-violent offenders!!! using traffic offenders as criminals !! what a bunch of bullsh*t! my son is doing 7 years for wirefraud!!!! anyone who wants to back my opinion email me rose51460@hotmail.com
george
thanks, to the congressmen who made it possible for this law to pass, i knopw it all takes time to take effect, but if all we need is mr. bush to sign it so lets give him a pen. and also push for a reform to the federal parole, it will help our loved ones come home quicker. specially for first time non violent offenders.
Kevin
The bill will be signed on April 9th. It will not help get my 2 elderly sisters home any sooner. We lost a sister to cancer this week and had to go through this without her sisters that she loved so very much. I don't understand how they think treating inmates this way, especially elderly non violent ones will help them. All they are doing is making them so bitter and hard at thier age that they won't care about anyone when they do get home.Hurry, please, lets see some action.
SMM
Does this bill include federal prisoners? My fiance is in federal prison for tax fraud, this is his first offense and obviously non-violent. Anyone with info, please feel free to email me at sarahandchad14@gmail.com Thanks so much!
S.y.
Will this bill benefit the BOP inmates in anyway? My uncle is doing federal time four 2 years first time offender will he be able to get some kind of break his family need his. His mother is up in age and she is worried to death about her soon .Please can i get any answers.
babe
I am going to serve time for someone else that got me involved,I'm a single parent with two young girls that will have no support.This is a first time non-
violent felony that I was charge
with.I don't want the streets to get my children.please are there any answers
tonya
My man is doing a 15 year sentence for a non violent crime and has already done nearly 11 yrs... this could not have come sooner??His Kids and I need him home! I'm praying that he will be on the top of this list.. I read that inmates need to Apply??? Any one know anything on that? email me grlskickas@yahoo.com