Around 600,000 people leave incarceration and return to society from prison yearly, with an even higher rate of arriving and departing from regional detention facilities. To address the challenges these individuals face in reintegrating into society and to provide support to reduce the likelihood of reoffence, the Second Chance Act was enacted. This legislation was passed by Congress with bipartisan support and signed into law by President Bush in April 2008. The Act was last reauthorized by President Trump in 2018.

The Second Chance Act of 2008 aims to enhance public safety and reduce corrections expenses for state and local governments by improving reentry services for individuals who leave prisons and jails. This Act signifies a federal investment in strategies to fulfill its purpose by allocating up to $165 million in federal grants to state, local, and tribal government agencies and nonprofit organizations to support initiatives and programs focused on achieving these goals (CSG Justice Center, 2018).  In June 2024, a new bill was introduced to reauthorize crucial reentry grant programs that were originally established from the Second Chance Act of 2008. These programs included supportive services for housing, career training, childcare, and treatment for substance use disorders and mental health issues (Sierra Sun Times, 2024). 

Around 95% of incarcerated individuals will return to society, and the reauthorization of this legislation will continue providing resources to evidence-based programs that have been proven successful in reducing the chances of people committing recidivism. Capito reinforces the idea that investing in effective programs aimed at supporting the reentry of formerly incarcerated persons is not only beneficial for them but also contributes to public safety by reducing the risk of reoffending (Sierra Sun Times 2024). 

The Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2024 aims to (Sierra Sun Times, 2024):

1. Reauthorize key grant programs offering essential services and resources for people reentering communities from incarceration.
2. Expand the use of funds for supportive and transitional housing for individuals leaving prison and jail.
3. Improve addiction treatment services such as peer recovery support, case management, and overdose prevention.

Ever since the legislation was enacted 15 years ago, The Second Chance Act has been instrumental in supporting states, local governments, tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations to reduce recidivism. To date, this Act has provided grants that have reached at least 442,000 justice-involved individuals, offering them reentry services and support through parole and probation programs. Between 2009 and 2023 under The Second Chance Act, the U.S. Department of Justice awarded over $600 million in 1,100 grants to 845 agencies across the U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia. These agencies include states, local and tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations focused on reentry programs (Sierra Sun Times, 2024). 

Overall, the main purpose of The Second Chance Act is to provide significant financial support and resources to support the reintegration of individuals returning from incarceration, demonstrating a broad, bipartisan commitment to reducing recidivism and promoting successful reentry. 

The view the complete text of the bill, click here.

The Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2024 is supported by the following organizations (Sierra Sun Times, 2024):  The Council of State Governments Justice Center, Conservative Political Action Coalition, Faith and Freedom Coalition, Prison Fellowship, Huntington, WV QRT (Quick Response Team), West Virginia Certification Board for Addiction & Prevention Professionals, Reentry Working Group, Correctional Leaders Association, Major County Sheriffs of America, National Sheriffs' Association, Addiction Professionals of North Carolina, Alliance for Safety and Justice, All Rise, Alvis, Inc., America Forward, American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, American Jail Association, American Parole and Probation Association, Amiracle4sure, Appalachian Field Services, Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, Addiction Policy Forum, Behavioral Health Foundation, Benton Franklin Recovery Coalition, Better Futures Minnesota, Beyond the Pod, Big Thought, Bohart Counseling PLLC, Boss Mode Recovery, Braeburn, Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, Bridgeways Business Roundtable, CADCA, California Consortium of Addiction Programs & Professionals, Californians for Safety and Justice, Cara Collective, Catholic Charities USA, Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services, Center for Employment Opportunities, Center for Justice and Human Dignity, Center for Living and Learning, Children and Family Futures, Chrysalis Civil Citation Network, Coalfield Development, Community Kitchen Pittsburgh, Concordance Academy, Connecticut Certification Board, Empowerment Plan, Faces & Voices of Recovery, FareStart, First Step Staffing, For The People, GreenLight Fund, Harm Reduction Research Lab, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson, Haymarket Center, Hope House Treatment Centers, Hopeworks, HousingPlus, IC&RC, IJIS Institute, Inmates For Change, International Community Justice Association, Jobs for the Future, Juma Ventures, Just Detention International, JustLeadership USA, Keys2Work, Landforce, Live for Life, Inc., Living Redemption Community Development Corporation, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Los Angeles Conservation Corps, LOTUS Consulting, LLC, Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association, American Civil Liberties Union, Montgomery County Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health, Inc., National Alliance for Recovery Residences, National Association for Children of Addiction, National Association of Counties, National Association of Evangelicals, National Association of Social Workers, National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors, National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, National Association on Mental Illness, National Behavioral Health Association of Providers, National Black Women's Justice Institute, National Council for Mental Wellbeing, National Crime Prevention Council, National Criminal Justice Association, National District Attorneys Association, National League of Cities, National Youth Justice Network, Neighborhood Industries, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, New Earth, New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies, Inc., New York State Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, Northern Valley Industries, North Lawndale Employment Network, Office of the Cobb County District Attorney, Georgia, OIC of South Florida, OPA Staffing, LLC, Oregon Council for Behavioral Health, PAR Recycle Works, Pioneer Human Services, PRC, Prison Families Alliance, Rebuilding Exchange, RecycleForce, REDF, Repowered Responsible Business Initiative for Justice, Roca, Inc., R Street, Safer Foundation, Shatterproof, Social Finance, Streets Team Enterprises, Sullivan County Department of Public Health, Texas Certification Board of Addiction Professionals, The Alston Wilkes Society, The Episcopal Church, The Fortune Society, The National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice, The Trenton Sun, The United States Conference of Mayors, TimeDone, Today I Matter, Inc., Touch A Heart, Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities, Treatment Communities of America, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Union for Reform Judaism, Uplift Northwest, UTEC, Inc., Valeo, Vera Institute of Justice, Weld Seattle, WestCare Foundation, Women’s Community Justice Association, Youth Connections Coalition.

References

• Sierra Sun Times. (2024). U.S. Senators Cory Booker, Shelley Moore Capito, Dick Durbin, John Cornyn, and Peter Welch Introduce Bipartisan Second Chance Reauthorization Act to Enhance Reentry Programs and Promote Public Safety. Retrieved from https://www.goldrushcam.com/sierrasuntimes/index.php/news/local-news/57324-u-s-senators-cory-booker-shelley-moore-capito-dick-durbin-john-cornyn-and-peter-welch-introduce-bipartisan-second-chance-reauthorization-act-to-enhance-reentry-programs-and-promote-public-safety

• Spolin and Dukes P.C. (n.d.). Overview of New Laws Affecting Inmates. Retrieved from https://www.spolinlaw.com/california/first-step-act/#:~:text=The%20First%20Step%20Act%20%E2%80%94%20This,About%20the%20First%20Step%20Act.

• The Council of State Governments State Governments Justice Center. (2018). The Second Chance Act. Retrieved from https://csgjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/July-2018_SCA_factsheet.pdf

Pete Nielsen LAADC, CADC II, CAI, SAP

President & CEO at CCAPP | 800-564-5927

Pete Nielsen is the President and Chief Executive Officer for the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP), CCAPP Credentialing, CCAPP Education Institute and the Behavioral Health Association of Providers (BHAP), and Publisher of Counselor Magazine

CCAPP is the largest statewide consortium of addiction programs and professionals and the only one representing all modalities of substance-use disorder treatment programs. BHAP is the leading and unifying voice of addiction-focused treatment programs nationally.

Mr. Nielsen has worked in the substance-use disorders field for 20 years. In addition to association management, he brings experience as an interventionist, family recovery specialist, counselor, administrator, and educator, with positions including campus director, academic dean, and instructor.

Mr. Nielsen is the secretary of the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium and the publisher for Counselor magazine. He is a nationally known speaker and writer who has been published in numerous industry-specific magazines. Mr. Nielsen holds a Master of Arts in counseling psychology and a Bachelor of Science in business management.