The Second Chance Act, which was signed into law in 2008, was created to improve the outcomes for people returning to communities from prisons and jails. According to the National Reentry Resource Center, the legislation authorizes federal grants to government agencies and non-profit organizations to provide employment assistance, substance abuse treatment, housing, family programming, mentoring, victims support, and other services that can help reduce recidivism.

The Justice Center reports that the Senate Appropriations Committee has voted to eliminate funding for the Second Chance Act in the fiscal year (FY) 2012 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill. The program received $100 million in 2010, but that was reduced to $83 million for 2011. In contrast, the House Appropriations Committee recently approved $70 million for the Second Chance Act in their FY12 funding bill. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, who is a member of the funding subcommittee, has said he would work to restore funding when the House and Senate Appropriations Committees attempt to resolve differences between the two spending bills.

Committee approval is only the first step. The appropriations bills must be passed by the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, as well as the full House and Senate.

For the summary of the legislation approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee, please visit here.

For the bill report language, please visit here.

Help Restore Second Chance Act Funding

What you can do:

            1. Please contact your members of Congress (link to letter) and ask them to support funding for the Second Chance Act in FY 2012.

            2. Sign the national sign-on letter in support of Second Chance Act funding.

            3, Share this information and ask your colleagues and friends to help protect funding for the Second Chance Act.