Portman prison bill gains approval as part of larger First Step Act

A bipartisan measure U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) sponsored to reauthorize adult and juvenile offender reentry projects this week received approval in Congress as part of a larger prison reform package.

Sen. Portman on Nov. 15 introduced the Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2018, S. 3635, with lead original cosponsor U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT). S. 3635 is the Senate version of U.S. House bill H.R. 2899. The bill became part of the First Step Act of 2018 package of prison reform measures that the Senate approved on Dec. 18. The First Step Act, S. 756, will head to the president’s desk to become law.

“I’m pleased that my legislation to reauthorize and strengthen the Second Chance Act passed the Senate as part of the bipartisan criminal justice reform bill,” Sen. Portman said on Tuesday. “This important legislation helps stop the revolving door of incarceration through drug treatment and job training programs, and it helps former inmates live up to their God-given potential.”

The Second Chance Reauthorization Act reauthorizes and amends a 2008 federal law Sen. Portman originally co-authored while serving as a U.S. Representative to support state and local reentry programs to reduce recidivism, according to a summary provided by his office.

The law, the Second Chance Act, has provided more than 850 grants since 2009 to government agencies and nonprofit organizations in 49 states for reentry programs serving adults and juveniles. As of June, more than 164,000 individuals have participated in these programs, according to Sen. Portman’s statement.

“It helps people be able to create their own future — rather than be held back by the mistakes of their past,” said the senator.

In his home state, Sen. Portman said more than $39 million in Second Chance Act grants have been awarded since 2009 to fund services like job training, mental health treatment and drug rehabilitation that support Ohioans re-entering the community.

“The Second Chance Act has already changed thousands of lives in Ohio and across the country by telling ex-offenders that if you want to turn your life around and become a productive member of society, we want to help,” the lawmaker said. “I look forward to President Trump signing it into law soon.”