Second Chance Act Overview

Second Chance Act Overview refers to the suite of federal legislation and programs stemming from the Second Chance Act of 2007: Community Safety Through Recidivism Prevention, a bipartisan law enacted to improve reentry outcomes for individuals returning from federal and state prisons and local jails. Signed into law on April 9, 2008, as Public Law 110-199, the Act authorized the United States Department of Justice to award grants to government and nonprofit agencies for reentry demonstration projects, offender treatment, mentoring, and related services. Within the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), the Act expanded pre-release planning, established reentry coordinators at each institution, and funded partnerships for employment, housing, and substance-abuse treatment.

Although the original authorization expired in 2012, Congress has repeatedly reauthorized and expanded funding through subsequent bills, most recently the Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-391, Title V), which was incorporated into the broader First Step Act. The programs continue to operate under annual appropriations and BOP policy.

Summary

The Second Chance Act (SCA) provides the statutory foundation for most modern federal reentry programming. It authorized more than sixty grant programs administered primarily by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and the Office of Justice Programs (OJP). Key BOP-specific mandates include the appointment of reentry affairs coordinators, expansion of skills-training and drug-treatment programs, elderly offender pilot programs, and partnerships with community providers.

Inside federal prisons, SCA-funded initiatives include:

• Expansion of Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) capacity
• Creation of the Federal Prisoner Reentry Initiative (FPRI)
• Establishment of reentry employment centers and job fairs
• Mentoring grants for faith-based and community organizations
• Funding for halfway house (Residential Reentry Center) placements beyond the former 12-month statutory cap

The 2018 reauthorization extended funding through fiscal year 2023 and permanently authorized the mature-copilot and compassionate-release provisions for elderly and terminally ill offenders originally piloted under the 2007 Act. As of 2025, Second Chance Act grant programs continue under annual Department of Justice appropriations, with total funding exceeding $100 million in most recent fiscal years.

History

The original Second Chance Act was introduced in the 109th Congress by Representatives Danny Davis (D-IL) and Chris Cannon (R-UT) and Senators Joe Biden (D-DE), Sam Brownback (R-KS), and others. After failing in 2005–2006, an amended version passed both chambers overwhelmingly and was signed by President George W. Bush on April 9, 2008.

Initial authorization totaled $360 million over two years, though actual appropriations were lower. The Act created more than twenty new grant categories, including technology-career training, family-based substance-abuse treatment, and reentry courts.

The Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2018 was incorporated as Title V of the First Step Act (Public Law 115-391), signed by President Donald Trump on December 21, 2018. The 2018 reauthorization:

• Permanently authorized the elderly offender pilot (now codified at 34 U.S.C. § 60541)
• Expanded compassionate-release eligibility
• Increased funding ceilings
• Required performance metrics and recidivism studies

Subsequent appropriations acts have continued funding at $85–115 million annually.

Key Programs and Provisions

Reentry Demonstration Projects

Competitive grants to state, local, and tribal governments and nonprofits for comprehensive reentry services.

Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) Expansion

Increased funding for in-prison and aftercare drug treatment.

Mentoring Grants

Support for one-on-one and group mentoring by faith-based and community organizations.

Technology Careers and Training

Grants for vocational training in high-demand fields such as welding, coding, and commercial driving.

Elderly and Family Reunification Pilot

Originally a demonstration program allowing early release to home confinement for qualifying offenders over age 60; made permanent and expanded under the 2018 reauthorization.

BOP Institutional Reforms

Mandated appointment of a Reentry Affairs Coordinator (RAC) at every federal prison, 18-month pre-release planning, and expanded use of Residential Reentry Centers (halfway houses).

Impact Within Federal Prisons

The BOP implemented SCA requirements through Program Statement 5325.14 (Reentry Programs) and related policies. Every institution now has a designated Reentry Affairs Coordinator who oversees release preparation, mock job fairs, and community resource coordination beginning 30 months prior to release.

The Act funded significant expansion of RDAP and non-residential drug treatment, both of which qualify for sentence reductions. It also supported creation of the Female Offender Reentry Program and veterans treatment initiatives.

Terminology

• SCA – Second Chance Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-199)
• SCRA 2018 – Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Title V of the First Step Act)
• RRC – Residential Reentry Center (commonly called halfway house)
• RDAP – Residential Drug Abuse Program; nine-month intensive treatment qualifying for up to 12-month sentence reduction
• Reentry Affairs Coordinator (RAC) – BOP staff member responsible for institutional reentry planning
• Elderly Offender Pilot – Program (now permanent) allowing early home confinement for qualifying offenders aged 60+ with specific criteria
• BJA – Bureau of Justice Assistance; primary administrator of SCA grants

External Links

• Bureau of Justice Assistance – Second Chance Act
• Full Text – Second Chance Act of 2007 (PDF)
• First Step Act (includes Second Chance Reauthorization) – Congress.gov
• BOP Reentry Programs Overview