Faith & Freedom Coalition Supports President Donald J. Trump & Congressional Efforts To Pass Prison Reform Legislation To Make Our Communities Safer

Washington, DC – President Donald J. Trump hosted a White House panel today to discuss with the Faith & Freedom Coalition and other justice reform proponents the need for federal prison reform.

“My Administration is committed to helping former inmates become productive, law-abiding members of society,” said President Trump at today’s event attended by Faith & Freedom Legislative Affairs Director Patrick Purtill in the East Room of the White House.

Faith & Freedom has made federal prison reform one of its top legislative priorities and support the efforts of President Trump and Congressional leaders such as Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA), U.S. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-IA), and Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), to support legislation to help former inmates who have completed their sentences to have a second chance to become contributing members of society and avoid subsequent incarceration.

“We are thankful for President Trump’s leadership in recognizing the tremendous opportunity that his administration and Congress have to pass meaningful, moral, and effective reforms that will keep our communities safe and help those reentering society to live productive lives,” said Faith & Freedom Executive Director Tim Head.

The U.S. House of Representatives is poised to vote next week on the First Step Act, legislation sponsored by Rep. Collins and supported by President Trump, that would promote public safety and give people in prison access to programming to successfully re-enter society. The House Judiciary Committee approved the legislation last week with support from both Democrats and Republicans on the Committee.

“The First Step Act is bipartisan legislation that promotes public safety and gives people in prison access to the transformational programming they need to earn back the public’s trust and to return home as good spouses, parents and neighbors. We hope that Congress will pass the First Step Act and get the bill to President Trump’s desk as soon as possible so that ex-offenders get an opportunity to redeem themselves, find dignity and become a valued, contributing member of society,” added Head.

The First Step Act would implement a post-sentencing risk assessment system within the federal Bureau of Prisons to determine a person’s risk of reoffending. The Act also codifies that the Bureau of Prisons will utilize proven recidivism reduction programs such as drug rehabilitation, education, skills training, classes on faith, and work programs for all federal prisoners in partnership with non-profit and faith-based organizations.