Two of every three prisoners released from prison this year are expected to be rearrested for serious crimes within three years. But the House Judiciary Committee has passed a bill, sponsored by Rep. Chris Cannon, designed to help reduce those numbers.
The bill authorizes $40 million in 2007 for grants to help enlist faith-based groups, nonprofit organizations and others to provide newly released prisoners with drug treatment, mentors, job training and housing.
"It is our responsibility to society to make sure our prisons are not just revolving doors," Cannon, R-Utah, said after the committee passed his "Second Chance Act" last week and sent it to the full House.
"Through the Second Chance Act, we can reduce prisoners' chances of re-offending and improve their chances to be productive, contributing citizens," he said.
Cannon said that 70 to 80 percent of offenders have histories of substance abuse and an increasing number have mental-health problems. He said if continuing treatment is not sought or available upon release, relapse is likely.
So the bill authorizes improved residential drug-treatment programs and authorizes the Bureau of Justice Statistics to study substance abusers' reentry into society. It also would create a national resource center to collect and share best practices for groups offering assistance to ex-prisoners, and to provide training and support for such groups.
A provision would also amend drug-free student-loan guidelines so that only drug offenses committed while a student is receiving federal aid would result in the loss of the assistance. That would help more ex-prisoners obtain financial aid for school, as long as they stay clean.
Advocacy groups supporting the bill — including the Prison Fellowship Ministries — say the bill could save taxpayers money and prevent crime by breaking the cycle of recidivism.
About 600,000 people are released from prison every year in the United States.
E-mail: lee@desnews.com