Congressman Danny Davis Introduces Bill to Help Inmates Re-enter Society

With more than two million people in prison, the United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world. Ninety-five percent of the men and women in prison will eventually return to their communities. This means that over 600,000 prisoners will be released to their communities each year. "Most are low-income minority men, and most return to high poverty communities. They reenter their communities with significant barriers to successful returns," such as ill health, dependence on drugs, poor education, and a lack of vocational training. Presently, two-thirds of released prisoners are rearrested within three years, and about half return to prison. In the Center for American Progress's Task Force on Poverty's recently released report, From Poverty to Prosperity, which lays out a national strategy to cut poverty in half, one of the conclusions was that "our nation could reduce crime, strengthen communities, and reduce poverty through a dedicated effort to help exiting prisoners find employment and reintegrate into their communities." While much of the work must be done in the states, on the federal level, "a helpful first step would be passing the Second Chance Act of 2007 (H.R. 1593), which would provide demonstration and mentoring grants to states and nonprofits, create a National Offender Reentry Resource Center, establish a federal reentry Task Force, and enhance many currents reentry programs." Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL), who introduced the bill in the House, recently said of the Second Chance Act: "It will reduce recidivism. It will help reunite families and protect communities. It will enhance public safety and save taxpayer dollars. It is the humane thing to do. It is the responsible thing to do. It is the right thing to do." Contact your members of Congress today and tell them to pass the Second Chance Act. [MORE]