U.S. House of Representatives Approves First Step Act To Reform Federal Prison System

Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the “First Step Act” to reform the federal prison system. President Trump is expected to sign the First Step Act into law on Friday.

The First Step Act will promote public safety by implementing a risk assessment system within the federal Bureau of Prisons for low-level, non-violent offenders eligible for release, and provide federal prisoners with programming that has proven to help them successfully re-enter society upon their release.

“The First Step Act is the most consequential federal justice reform since 2010 and will provide people in federal prison with 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 Executive Director Tim Head. “The faith community has worked for years to achieve lasting reform of our federal justice system and thanks to reform minded legislators of both political parties and a wide array of advocates, justice reform is on the precipice of becoming law.” 

Faith & Freedom Coalition has made federal prison reform one of its top legislative priorities and with support from President Trump and a bipartisan group of leaders in Congress, the First Step Act will provide former inmates who have completed their sentences a second chance to become contributing members of society and return home as good spouses, parents, and neighbors.

The First Step Act 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.