Below is a statement from Timothy Head, Executive Director of the Faith & Freedom Coalition, on today’s favorable vote in the U.S. House Judiciary Committee of H.R. 3406, the Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2015. The Act was originally signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2008 with overwhelming bipartisan support. Since then, states have seen dramatic decreases in criminal recidivism and crime rates as tens of thousands of men, women and youth returning home from prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities have been served through mentoring, family-based substance abuse treatment, and other evidence-based reentry programs, including many faith-based programs, made possible through the Second Chance Act.
“Today, Chairman Goodlatte, Rep. Sensenbrenner, and the other members of the Committee took an important step to ensure that programs remain available to help those who have spent time behind bars to safely re-enter society and lead productive lives. These grants, many of which have gone to faith based organizations, have proven to effectively provide substance abuse, education, and mental health services to those who are working to make a better life for themselves and their families and have reduced the vicious cycle of recidivism. The Second Chance Act will make our communities safer by continuing to successfully restore formerly incarcerated men and women to their families and our communities.”
For more information on the Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2015 or to speak with a representative at the Faith & Freedom Coalition, please contact Lance Lemmonds atlance@ffcoalition.com.