WASHINGTON, D.C., April 9, 2008 — President Bush signed the Second Chance Act of 2007 (H.R. 1593) on April 9. Aimed at reducing recidivism and increasing public safety, the landmark bill — which Prison Fellowship helped draft and guide through Congress — authorizes $362 million to improve the way U.S. prisons prepare inmates to reenter society. It passed in the Senate unanimously and passed in the House 347-62. 

The Second Chance Act includes key elements of President Bush's Prisoner Reentry Initiative which:

• Encourages community and faith-based organizations to deliver mentoring and transitional services
• Connects former inmates to mental health and substance abuse treatment programs
• Expands job training and placement services
• Facilitates transitional housing and case management services

Some 700,000 inmates will be released from prison this year, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Currently, little is done to prepare them to lead productive, law-abiding lives,” said Prison Fellowship Vice President Pat Nolan — an ex-offender himself — who leads Prison Fellowship’s criminal justice reform efforts.As a result, more than half end up back in prison within three years.”

While figures vary widely by state, the average spent to keep a prisoner behind bars — whether he or she has committed murder or written bad checks — is $23,876 per year. The Second Chance Act will punish non-dangerous offenders in ways that make it more likely for them to be able to pay victim restitution, child support and taxes.

“These grants allow churches and community groups to recruit, train and match returning inmates with mentors,” said Mark Earley, president of Prison Fellowship. “Prison Fellowship knows — from 30 years of outreach to prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families — that pairing returning inmates with loving mentors from local churches is the best way to help them stay on the straight and narrow.”

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). President Bush called for this legislation in his 2004 State of the Union address saying, “America is the land of second chances, and when the gates of prison open, the path ahead should lead to a better life.”

Click here to read the official White House press release and the President's remarks.

The Second Chance Act Frequently Asked Questions (2008)
Families Against Mandatory Minimums