The White House, President George W. Bush Click to print this document

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
April 9, 2008

Fact Sheet: President Bush Signs Second Chance Act of 2007

     Fact sheet President Bush Signs H.R. 1593, the 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

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.

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.

# # #


Return to this article at:
/news/releases/2008/04/20080409-15.html

Click to print this document