In late February, I was asked if the ACCA, as an organization, would support HR1593/S1060, also known as the “Second Chance Act of 2007”.  I immediately polled the Executive Council via e-mail and, as expected, the unanimous answer of those responding was “yes”.  I then officially informed those who were lobbying for this proposed legislation that ACCA supported it.  As it turned out, the legislation was passed with broad bi-partisan support before it was necessary for our voice, and that of other groups, to be formally introduced into the complex legislative process.

           Correctional Chaplains everywhere, whether paid or volunteer, by virtue of their ministry believe in “second chances”.  Our very presence in prisons and jails, whatever our particular religious denomination, is not simply to provide religious services and programs, but to also help inmates change their lives.  As Chaplains, we believe that real change always has a spiritual component to it because it must come from deep within a person.  The necessary change must not simply be an external compliance to the laws of society but an internal decision based on spiritual values that include responsibility and accountability.

           Incarceration should be about more than punishment.  Since nearly all inmates will return to society (95%), punishment must have both a constructive and rehabilitative purpose.  The “Second Chance Act” is a modest prisoner re-entry bill.  Its goal is to help insure that the transition that persons make from prison or jail to the community is successful. It is designed to assist the re-entry of nearly 650,000 persons being released from prisons and over 7 million being released from jails each year.  The bill provides approximately $180 million a year in both 2009 and 2010.  The goal is to reduce recidivism, which has held steady at approximately 66% for those released from state and federal prisons. Two-thirds of those released from these institutions re-offend or violate the conditions of their release within three years and are returned behind bars.

           There are approximately 320 million adult Americans.  An annual cost of $180 million for the “Second Chance Act” works out to approximately 56 cents per year per adult American.  When one considers that California spent more than $500 million in 2006 on overtime alone, this is indeed a very modest bill.  There will be monetary savings in the criminal justice system attendant with the successful implementation of the “Second Chance Act” because reduced recidivism keeps communities safer and reduces costs for arrest, prosecution and incarceration.  While financial savings are not to be dismissed as irrelevant, the real measure of the success of the program will be found in lives restored.  One can not put a dollar amount on a person who has successfully returned to society as a productive member of the community.

           Some of the key provisions of the “Second Chance Act” include: Demonstration Grants, Mentoring Grants, Drug Treatment Incentive Grants, Career Training, Children and Families, National Offender Re-Entry Resource Center, etc.  Additional information is available on the Internet.

           Chaplains believe in a “second chance”.  This legislation mirrors their view that persons can be reintegrated into the community following incarceration.  Successfully implemented, the “Second Chance Act” will be a win-win situation in many ways for all concerned parties.  We anticipate the President’s signature on this long awaited legislation.