The newly created Bipartisan Second Chance Task Force, led by co-chair U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), is the first-ever congressional group focused on reentry policies that will help formerly incarcerated and justice system-involved people gain access to jobs and expand worker pools for employers who are interested in hiring returning citizens.
“Providing tools and treatment to help incarcerated individuals re-enter society is important and reduces their chances of re-offending, making our communities safer,” said Rep. Armstrong, a co-chair along with U.S. Reps. David Trone (D-MD), John Rutherford (R-FL), and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE).
At the time of its launch, the task force had 26 members evenly distributed between Democrats and Republicans, including U.S. Reps. Nancy Mace (R-SC), Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA), Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), and Stephanie Bice (R-OK).
During its inaugural event on Feb. 1, task force members and co-chairs were joined by Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director Colette Peters and Acting Head of the National Institute of Corrections Alix McLearen for an introductory briefing on the challenges that the BOP faces in establishing and maintaining successful reentry programming, according to information provided by Rep. Armstrong’s staff.
For instance, according to the Prison Policy Initiative, more than 600,000 inmates are released from state and federal prisons every year in the United States and currently face an average unemployment rate of more than 27 percent.
“The most critical time for someone leaving incarceration is the first 30 days after release, yet they face many obstacles,” said Rep. Armstrong. “We have to be smarter about how we can help provide the stability they need. That’s why I’m honored to team up and co-lead this bipartisan task force.”
The new task force, which the Justice Action Network endorsed on Wednesday, also will address such barriers by hosting monthly roundtable discussions, the information says.
“Returning citizens continue to face hurdles that prevent them from rebuilding their lives and becoming productive members of society. This isn’t fair, and this isn’t right,” Rep. Trone said. “I’m proud to co-found and co-chair the Bipartisan Second Chance Task Force so that we work together – Republicans and Democrats – to address the problems in our criminal justice system head-on, and provide returning citizens with the resources they desperately need.”