President Bush Signs Second Chance Act of 2007

"America is the land of second chance, and when the gates of the
prison open, the path ahead should lead to a better life." - President
George W. Bush, 2004 State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
Today, President Bush signed into law the Second Chance Act of
2007. The Second Chance Act (H.R. 1593) will help transform lives and
build safer communities by helping prisoners who are returning to
society break cycles of crime and start new lives. 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. Additionally,
the Second Chance Act enhances drug treatment, mentoring, and
transitional services for ex-offenders through partnerships with local
corrections agencies and faith-based and community organizations.

The Second Chance Act Formalizes The Prisoner Reentry Initiative.

In his 2004 State of the Union address, President Bush announced
the PRI to help released inmates find work and make a fresh start in
life after prison. Expanding upon the successful Ready4Work pilot
program, PRI links returning adult nonviolent offenders with
faith-based and community organizations that help them find work,
connect with mentors, and avoid relapse into criminal activity.

-- PRI is yielding results for America's ex-offenders. In the
first two years of the program, more than 12,800 offenders
have enrolled in the prisoner reentry program. More than 7,900
offenders have been placed in jobs. Only 18 percent of those
enrolled in the program have been arrested again within one
year - less than half the estimated national average.

-- PRI is a signature program of the President's Faith-Based and
Community Initiative. To meet the individual needs of recently
released ex-offenders as they transition back to society, PRI
connects these individuals with faith-based and other
nonprofit organizations within their community.

-- PRI is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Departments of
Justice (DOJ) and Labor (DOL) to help reduce recidivism in
urban centers and other areas with the greatest need.

-- DOJ grants are awarded to State agencies for pre-release
services to partner anti-recidivism efforts with those of
faith-based and community organizations.

-- DOL funds are awarded to faith-based and community
organizations that provide a variety of assistance to
returning prisoners, including workforce development
services, job training, counseling, and other reentry
services.

-- The law signed today assists States and local government
entities, in partnership with nonprofit organizations, to
establish prisoner reentry demonstration projects.
Demonstration projects include:

-- Education, vocational training, and job placement services

-- Coordinated supervision for offenders upon release,
including housing and mental and physical health care

-- Programs that encourage offenders to develop safe,
healthy, and responsible family and parent-child
relationships

The Second Chance Act Extends The President's Vision For Ensuring
Returning Prisoners Have The Opportunity to Start New Lives.

President Bush has championed prisoner reentry and other
initiatives to transform lives and cut crime through programs like
DOJ's Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative (SVORI) and
Anti-Gang Initiative, DOL's Ready4Work program, and the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services' Mentoring Children of
Prisoners program.

-- Along with delivering vital services, these programs advance
innovation in reducing crime and breaking cycles of
recidivism. By funding social entrepreneurs to expand prisoner
reentry programs that couple efforts of corrections agencies
and nonprofit organizations, the Administration is providing
venture capital to build effective reentry models that can be
replicated at the State and local level.

White House Press Office
1-202-456-2580

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