We post news and comment on federal criminal justice issues, focused primarily on trial and post-conviction matters, legislative initiatives, and sentencing issues.

HOUSE GROUP TO TACKLE REENTRY

Two dozen House of Representatives members met a week ago to form a new Bipartisan Second Chance Task Force focused on aiding former inmates’ reentry into society.

The task force — with an equal number of Democrats and Republicans – is headed by Reps David Trone (D-MD), John Rutherford (R-FL), Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE). Trone said the group’s goal is to introduce “common sense” legislation on issues such as employment and automatic expungement.

At its meeting last week, the group heard from BOP Director Colette Peters and National Institute of Corrections acting head Alix McLearen about challenges the BOP has faced in maintaining successful reentry programming for the roughly 50,000 people who are released from federal prisons each year.

Trone introduced the Fresh Start Act in the last Congress, and reportedly is doing so again in the 119th Congress.  The Fresh Start Act would create funding for automatic record-clearing so people with qualifying records who have completed the terms of their sentences and have remained crime-free would automatically get their records expunged. Currently, federal law does not provide for expungement or record sealing.

Law360, House Task Force Aims To Help Ex-Cons Thrive After Prison (February 2, 2023)

Justice Action Network, News From Congress: Creation Of Second Chance Task Force Draws Praise From Nations Largest Bipartisan Criminal Justice Group (February 1, 2023)

– Thomas L. Root