House Judiciary passes bill to help prisoners re-enter society

Legislation to help prisoners who have completed their sentences successfully return to society advanced in the House on Tuesday.

The House Judiciary Committee passed the Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2015 by a voice vote. The bill reauthorizes grant funding for both public and private re-entry programs, including academic and vocational education for offenders in prison, jails and juvenile facilities.

{mosads}“Most of the people currently imprisoned will one day return to society, and it’s in all of our best interests to give these individuals a second chance and a hand up,” Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wisc.), chair of the subcommittee on crime, said in a news release.

“This legislation reduces prison costs, improves public safety, and produces significant savings to the American taxpayers. It also successfully helps reintegrate inmates into their communities, making our nation safer and stronger,” he said.

This legislation builds on the Second Chance Act of 2008 and includes important accountability measures and eliminates programs that have not been used.

“Statistics show that more than 90 percent of federal prisoners will eventually be released,” Chair Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) said in a release. “We must enact policies that enhance public safety by helping prisoners successfully reintegrate into society and restore their lives.”