President Donald Trump Endorses Justice Reform Legislation

Washington, DC – Today, President Donald J. Trump at a White House press conference announced his support of legislation to make the public safer by reforming the federal prison system.

The First Step Act, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives in June by an overwhelming bipartisan majority of 360-59, would promote public safety by implementing a risk assessment system within the federal Bureau of Prisons, modest reforms to sentencing guidelines, and provides federal prisoners with programming that has proven to help them successfully re-enter society upon their release.

“The faith community has been at the forefront of the prison reform movement and Faith & Freedom has been working diligently for over three years to see meaningful reform enacted within the federal justice system and now with the support of President Trump we can see the light at the end of the tunnel to provide ex-offenders a chance to redeem themselves,” said Faith & Freedom Coalition Executive Director Tim Head. “We urge the U.S. Senate to pass this legislation before Congress adjourns in December so that President Trump can sign the bill into law and begin the process of reforming our federal prison system to make the public safer by giving inmates a second chance to become contributing members of society and return home as good spouses, parents and neighbors.”

The legislation includes: implementation of a post-sentencing risk assessment system to determine an inmate’s risk of committing more crimes upon release, institution within federal Bureau of Prisons of effective recidivism reduction programs such as drug rehabilitation, education, skills training and work programs, and provides incentives for inmates to participate in those programs. The Senate legislation also includes common-sense reforms to federal sentencing guidelines.

“The over 1.8 million members and supporters of Faith & Freedom are committed to achieving lasting reform of our justice system to make our communities safer and thanks to the efforts of both Republicans and Democrats and President Trump we are one step closer to giving inmates access to the transformational programming such as drug rehabilitation, skills training, and faith-based education that they need to ensure that they don’t end up back in prison,” said Head.

Today’s announcement from President Trump that he supports passage of the justice reform legislation coincides with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s effort to whip the legislation this week with a potential vote in the coming weeks.