Cannon's "Second Chance Act" Signed into Law by the President in Ceremony Today at the White House

Statement

CANNON'S "SECOND CHANCE ACT" SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE PRESIDENT IN CEREMONY TODAY AT THE WHITE HOUSE

The "Second Chance Act" (HR 1593), legislation co-sponsored by Congressman Chris Cannon (R-UT), was signed into law today by the President during a signing ceremony at the White House. The "Second Chance Act," a signature piece of legislation introduced by Congressman Cannon when Republicans were in the majority, would improve the efficiency of prisoner reentry services and make sure the federal, state and local governments work together for the returning prisoners and the communities and families they come home to.

After the ceremony, Congressman Cannon said,

"Successful prisoner reentry requires the active involvement of nongovernmental entities, such as non-profit agencies, faith institutions, ex-offender support groups, and community organizations. The Second Chance Act encourages public-private partnerships at the local level. The real solutions to the problems of recidivism are innovations at the community level. A modest expenditure to help transition offenders back into the community can save taxpayers thousands of dollars in the long run - and make those communities safer from repeat offenders. I was honored to join the President today in this achievement and look forward to continuing the work of ending the revolving door in America's prisons."

The average cost to house a federal inmate is over $25,000 a year. The average cost at the state level in 2000 was only slightly less -$21,170 annually. These figures do not include the cost of arrest and prosecution, nor do they take into account the costs to the victims. Although taxpayers went from spending $9 billion per year on corrections in 1982 to $60 billion two decades later, it is shocking that the recidivism rate hasn't improved over the last 30 years.

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