Second Chance Act of 2007
Making Second Chances Work: A Conference for Grantees Committed to Successful Reentry
The National Reentry Resource Center, with support from BJA has launched the
Making Second Chances Work conference web site. Conference participants and others interested in reentry can view the videotaped sessions with experts and download materials used during the conference on some of the most pressing issues facing the field.
Making Second Chances Work: A Conference for Grantees Committed to Successful Reentry was held May 26-27, in Washington, D.C. It brought together 2009 Second Chance Act grantee representatives. Individuals from state and local governments, community and faith-based organizations, and federally recognized Indian tribes participated in two days of meetings with experts in the fields of housing, employment, mental health and substance abuse treatment, community supervision, and other areas important to people transitioning from prison or jail to the community.
Many sessions focused on grantees' making the most of the federal investment in their programs by highlighting accountability issues and key practices such as assessing an individual's risk for committing future crimes, designing data-driven programs, and effectively allocating the limited resources available for people returning from prisons and jails. Special attention was dedicated to sharing strategies on meeting the distinct needs of youth returning to schools and families from detention in a secure facility in an effort to interrupt the costly cycle of crime and incarceration.
Announcments:
Second Chance Act Program to Evaluate and Improve Educational Methods for Incarcerated Adults and Juveniles (FY 2010 Competitive Grant Announcement)
Applications due: June 10, 2010
Second Chance Act Technology Careers Training Demonstration Projects for Incarcerated Adults and Juveniles (FY 2010 Competitive Grant Announcement)
Applications due: June 10, 2010
Family-Based Prisoner Substance Abuse Treatment Program (FY 2010 Competitive Grant Announcement)
Applications are due June 3, 2010
Second Chance Act Reentry Demonstration Program: Targeting Offenders with Co-occurring Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders (FY 2010 Competitive Grant Announcement)
Applications are due June 3, 2010
Second Chance Act State, Local, and Tribal Reentry Courts (FY 2010 Competitive Grant Announcement)
Applications are due June 3, 2010
Second Chance Act Mentoring Grants to Nonprofit Organizations (FY 2010 Competitive Grant Announcement)
Applications are no longer being accepted
Second Chance Act Adult and Juvenile Offender Reentry Demonstration Projects (FY 2010 Competitive Grant Announcement)
(A joint solicitation of BJA and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention)
Applications are no longer being accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
BJA and the Council of State Governments Justice Center are pleased to announce the launch of the National Reentry Resource Center.
Press Release: Justice Department Announces Grants Under Second Chance Act Prisoner Reentry Initiative (October 6, 2009)
Second Chance Act Mentoring Grants to Nonprofit Organizations FY 2009 Grant Awards
Second Chance Act National Adult and Juvenile Offender Reentry Resource Center FY 2009 Grant Awards
Second Chance Act Prisoner Reentry Initiative FY 2009 Grant Awards
Second Chance Act Mentoring Grants to Nonprofit Organizations (FY 2009 Competitive Grant Announcement)
Second Chance Act Prisoner Reentry Initiative (FY 2009 Competitive Grant Announcement for Demonstration Grants)
Second Chance Act National Adult and Juvenile Offender Reentry Resource Center (FY 2009 Competitive Grant Announcement for Demonstration Grants)
Frequently Asked Questions
Understanding the Second Chance Act: Sec. 101: State and Local Reentry Demonstration Projects
FRONTLINE Film on Reentry
On April 28, 2009, the PBS series FRONTLINE broadcast a film called "The Released," which explores what happens to mentally ill offenders once they are released from
prison. A video clip is available at: www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/released/.
The Second Chance Act of 2007: Community Safety Through Recidivism Prevention (H.R.1593/S.1060) is federal legislation designed to ensure the safe and successful return of prisoners to the community. Each year, as approximately 650,000 people are released from state and federal prisons and between 10 and 12 million more are released from local jails, they struggle with substance abuse, lack of adequate education and job skills, and mental health issues. The Second Chance Act will provide grants to local governments and organizations to help provide literacy classes, job training, education programs, and substance abuse and rehabilitation programs for offenders. The bill takes another step toward the goal of reducing the nationwide recidivism rate, which, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics is over 50 percent, and decreasing the billions of dollars spent annually on incarceration.
What's New
"Crime Control and Prevention Act of 2007" Proposed in Senate Includes "Enhanced Second Chance Act"Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE) recently introduced a new crime control and prevention bill that includes more specific recommendations, further information, and additional provisions and amendments to the Second Chance Act. Some of the new recommendations include the use of videoconferencing and technological advances to foster communication between supervisors and offenders, housing services, and additional reentry services. For more information, view the Enhanced Second Chance Act.
Second Chance Act Slated to Receive $45 Million in House Bill, $20 Million in Senate Bill
In June 2008, the House Appropriations Committee completed the mark-up of the 2009 appropriations bill, which reserves $45 million for programs authorized under
the Second Chance Act. As of July 2008, the Senate subcommittee on appropriations has reserved $20 million, but full committee consideration is still pending.
For a detailed breakdown of Congress' appropriations, visit the Reentry Policy Council web site.
President Bush Signed into Law the Second Chance Act of 2007
On April 9, 2008, President Bush held a press conference to officially sign the Second Chance Act. At the press conference, President Bush stated, "I'm about to
sign a piece of legislation that will help give prisoners across America a second chance for a better life. This bill is going to support the caring men and
women who help America's prisoners find renewal and hope." The legislation formally authorizes key elements of the successful Prisoner Reentry Initiative (PRI),
announced by the President in 2004, to help prisoners effectively reintegrate into the community. For more information, read the
White House press release.
For More Information
About the Second Chance Act
Read an overview of the key provisions and modifications.
Partner Perspectives and Links
Read about OJP's partner agencies and other faith-based and community-based organizations and their responses to the Act.
Related Issues
Read about other OJP programs and projects related to the Second Chance Act.
Coming soon! Federal and National Resources
Access information about funding opportunities from OJP's federal partners.
Implementation and Planning Resources
Access implementation and planning toolkits, workplan guidelines, best practices, and learn about upcoming events.
Contact Information:
Dr. Gary L. Dennis, Senior Policy Advisor for Corrections
202-305-9059
E-mail: gary.dennis@usdoj.gov
OR
Thurston Bryant, Policy Advisor
202-514-8082
E-mail: Thurston.Bryant@usdoj.gov
Bureau of Justice Assistance
810 Seventh Street NW
Washington, DC 20531
