| "> | | | | programs. |
| Today, Federal Inmates who are released from | | | | There has been much excitement amongst prisoners |
| Bureau of Prisons (BOP) custody receive next to no | | | | and their friends and relatives regarding a provision in |
| support from the Federal Government. Apart from a | | | | the Second Chance Act that would allow for additional |
| bus ticket, a change of clothes and a token sum of | | | | time in a half way house. Presently, federal inmates |
| money good for a couple meals, the recently released | | | | are eligible to serve the final 10% of their sentence in a |
| federal inmate is entirely on his own. For those lucky | | | | halfway house, but this is capped at six months. The |
| enough to have the support of family and friends, the | | | | Second Chance Act does allow for this time to be |
| process of getting back on one's feet, while difficult, is | | | | increased to 12 months. However, the Act leaves the |
| manageable. For those who lack this support system, | | | | actual implementation of this to the BOP. This means |
| the task of reintegrating into society as a law abiding | | | | that while the BOP now has the option of granting 12 |
| citizen is one fraught with difficulties. | | | | months halfway house time, they are under no |
| Many former inmates are released from prison and | | | | obligation to do so. Because an extension to 12 months |
| return to the same environment in which they | | | | requires additional paperwork and approval from not |
| committed their crime in the first place. They return to | | | | only the prison Warden, but from the BOP Regional |
| their home branded an ex-con or felon and face an | | | | Offices, the vast majority of federal inmates will find |
| uphill battle in their attempt to get back on their feet. | | | | that the new law will not mean that they will see the |
| Both mental and physical health problems are common | | | | other side of the prison walls any time sooner. |
| as are a lack of education that would qualify them for | | | | Further, it must be understood that the only provision in |
| a quality job. A glaring problem facing many former | | | | the Second Chance Act for early release of federal |
| inmates is the lack of a home. Faced with these | | | | prisoners is the section which has the BOP set up a |
| hurdles, even the most well intentioned former inmates | | | | "pilot program" in a single institution in which non-violent |
| often find themselves slipping back into a life of crime. | | | | offenders, who are aged 65 or over and who have |
| With the complete absence of support given to | | | | served a certain percentage of their sentence would |
| recently released inmates, it should come as no | | | | be released early. A plethora of conditions have been |
| surprise that within three years of leaving prison, over | | | | set for just who will qualify for this pilot program and |
| two thirds of ex-offenders are back in court facing | | | | as of yet, the BOP has not even chosen the institution |
| charges for a serious misdemeanor or felony and | | | | where the trial will take place. Many federal inmates |
| over one half return to life behind bars. | | | | and their families have gotten the wrong impression |
| The Second Chance Act (HR1593) entitled: "To | | | | about the Second Chance Act, understanding it to |
| reauthorize the grant program for reentry of offenders | | | | mean that it will give them a "second chance" by |
| into the community in the Omnibus Crime Control and | | | | granting them an earlier release date. This is |
| Safe Streets Act of 1968, to improve reentry planning | | | | unfortunately, not the case. |
| and implementation, and for other purposes", recently | | | | Indeed, the bill that would have granted a genuine |
| signed into law by President Bush attempts to offer | | | | second chance to federal inmates is entitled HR 262 |
| the support to former inmates that is so lacking now | | | | and was introduced in January of 2007. It would have |
| and to decrease the massive recidivism rate that | | | | provided for a 50% sentence reduction for first time, |
| plagues the justice system today. | | | | non-violent offenders over the age of 45. |
| The Second Chance Act attempts to help recently | | | | Understandably, this bill has been a beacon of hope for |
| released inmates in a number of ways. It authorizes | | | | many inmates. But unfortunately, it will die at the end of |
| important parts of the Bush Administration's Prison | | | | this term of Congress without ever receiving |
| Re-entry Initiative. The goal of this initiative is to help | | | | committee, let alone House, vote. |
| prisoners by expanding the scope of job training and | | | | Assuming the approval of funding, it appears that the |
| placement services, providing assistance in finding | | | | Second Chance Act will be of great assistance to |
| transitional housing, and assisting newly released | | | | those being released from prison who lack the support |
| prisoners via mentoring, including from faith-based | | | | system so crucial to a successful reintegration into |
| organizations. | | | | society. However, many are sure to be disappointed |
| The Second Chance Act also provides ex-prisoners | | | | that it does not offer a true second chance to those |
| with crucial services, like medical care and housing in | | | | currently incarcerated by reducing the amount of time |
| addition to bolstering the current prisoner drug | | | | served. |
| treatment programs and by offering various counseling | | | | |