On March 11, the Senate passed the Reducing Recidivism and Second Chance Act of 2007 (S. 1060), also known as the Second Chance Act, by unanimous consent.

Senate passage of the Second Chance Act is an important first step towards recognizing that community-based services are an integral part of stemming the cycle of incarceration that has devastated too many families and communities nationwide, according to Alexa Eggleston, Director of Public Policy for the National Council.  She added, It is particularly significant that treatment for mental health and substance use disorders are a high priority of the Act, given the high rate of relapse when treatment is not available to those leaving prison and jail.  The bill, introduced by Senators Joseph Biden (D-DE), Arlen Specter (R-PA), Sam Brownback (R-KS), and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) on March 30, 2007, reauthorizes the Adult and Juvenile Offender State and Local Reentry Demonstration Program, under which states craft programs focusing on housing, jobs, addiction treatment, mental health treatment, and services for families and children of incarcerated parents in order to help prisoners transition into life in their communities upon their release. 

The House passed the Second Chance Act of 2007: Community Safety Through Recidivism Prevention (HR 1593) by a vote of 347 to 62 on November 13, 2007. The President has indicated his support for the bill, and is expected to sign it into law in the next few weeks.  The National Council will be working with Congressional Appropriators to ensure that federal funding is allocated for the programs contained in this important legislation. 

The National Council is part of a coalition of groups lobbying for support of this important issue. The broad, bipartisan coalition includes groups such as the Legal Action Center, National Alliance to End Homelessness, American Correctional Association, Mennonite Central Committee, National Association of Counties and Volunteers for America.