Signed into law on April 9, 2008, the Second Chance Act (P.L. 110-199) was designed to improve outcomes for people returning to communities from prisons and jails. This first-of-its-kind legislation authorizes federal grants to government agencies and nonprofit organizations to provide employment assistance, substance abuse treatment, housing, family programming, mentoring, victims support, and other services that can help reduce recidivism.

Second Chance Act Resources

• Fact Sheet
• Talking Points
• 2009-2011 Grantee List
• Advocacy Packet COMING SOON

Action E-List

To stay up-to-date with Second Chance Act funding developments, please register for the Action E-List by clicking here.

Appropriations Update

Congress Restores Funding for the Second Chance Act

On Monday, November 14, 2011, House and Senate conferees released the "minibus" appropriations report, which includes Fiscal Year 2012 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) spending. The conference report, a consolidated appropriations bill for several agencies including the Department of Justice, provides $63 million for the Second Chance Act. Learn More

Senate Eliminates Second Chance Act Funding

Last week the Senate Appropriations Committee eliminated funding for the Second Chance Act in the fiscal year (FY) 2012 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill. In contrast, the House Appropriations Committee provided $70 million in their FY12 funding bill. (The Second Chance program was originally funded at $100 million in FY 2010, but that was reduced to $83 million in 2011). Although no funding for Second Chance was included in the bill, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy pledged to work to restore funding when the House and Senate Appropriations Committees attempt to resolve differences between the two spending bills.

The bill also provides $9 million for the Mentally Ill Offender Act (the legislation that authorizes the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program) for FY12. Overall it provides $2.3 billion for state and local law enforcement programs, including:

• $9 million for the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act
• $0 million for the Second Chance Act
• $395 million for Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants
• $21 million for Byrne Competitive Grants
• $35 million for Drug Courts
• $10 million for Residential Substance Abuse Treatment

Status of Federal Appropriations

Committee approval is only the first step in the appropriations process. The appropriations bills must be passed by the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, as well as the full House and Senate.

For the summary of the legislation approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee, please visit: http://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news.cfm?method=news.view&id=d396ebde-ec78-470d-b46b-b4d49c8e565e

For the bill report language, please visit: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CRPT-112srpt78/pdf/CRPT-112srpt78.pdf

Get Involved Today — Help Restore Second Chance Act Funding

Members of Congress need to hear from you immediately about the importance of Second Chance Act funding.

How You Can Help

1. Please contact your members of Congress http://www.capwiz.com/csgjusticectr/issues/alert/?alertid=53718591&type=CO (link to letter) and ask them to support funding for the Second Chance Act in FY 2012.
2. Sign the national sign-on letter in support of Second Chance Act funding (for instructions on how to do this, see below).
3. Share this information and ask your colleagues and friends to help protect funding for the Second Chance Act.

Sign Letter to Support Second Chance Act Funding

Please help protect funding for the Second Chance Act in FY 2012 and sign your organization onto the Second Chance FY12 sign-on letter. Hundreds of state, local, and community organizations have signed on to date to protect the funding for this critical prisoner reentry program. Organizations that are interested in signing the letter should email Jay Nelson.

Visit the National Reentry Resource Center

The new home on the web for the most up-to-date information about the Second Chance Act, including new solicitations, is the National Reentry Resource Center.

• To find information about the Second Chance Act on the National Reentry Resource Center's website, please click here.
• To register to receive the National Reentry Resource Center's monthly newsletter, please click here.

The National Reentry Resource Center, a project of the Council of State Governments Justice Center, is supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance.