National Reentry Advocacy Project

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H.I.R.E. will post breaking news and information on congressional hearings, new legislation, and recent votes concerning issues affecting persons with a criminal record along with other criminal justice-related updates.

Support Funding for the Second Chance Act

Please Call, Fax Or Email Your Members Of Congress today and ask them to support funding The Second Chance Act at the highest possible levels.

  • What You Need to Know:
    The President signed the Second Chance Act into law on April 9, 2008. The Second Chance Act authorizes grants to States and localities to begin to address the need for drug and mental health treatment, job training and education opportunities, and housing, as well as other critical services for individuals when they return to the community from incarceration. Click Here for a complete overview of the Second Chance Act.

    However, although the Second Chance Act is now law, no monies will be available for the Second Chance Act until Congress votes to allocate funding for the Act's programs. It is essential that your Members of Congress hear that you, their constituents, support funding for the Second Chance Act and want them to vote to fund the programs at the highest possible levels.

  • What You Need to Do:
    Call, fax, or email your Member of the U.S. House of Representatives and your two U.S. Senators and ask them to support funding for the Second Chance Act. Click Here for a sample letter. Please feel free to add information about reentry needs in your local area. Find contact information for your U.S. House Member at: http://www.house.gov/ and your U.S. Senators at: http://www.senate.gov/.

  • What You Need to Say:
    "I live in Representative/Senator ________'s District/State and I would like to ask the Representative/ Senator to support funding the Second Chance Act at the highest possible levels during the upcoming funding process in Congress. Funding the Second Chance Act will better help communities address the needs of formerly incarcerated people so they can successfully reenter the community."

    • Please contact Gabrielle de la Gueronniere (gdelagueronniere@lac-dc.org) or Nisha Thakker (nthakker@lac.org) at 202-544-5478 with any questions.

    Thank you for your help!



This information will allow our members to be informed and engaged in the federal process. Members are encouraged to contact their elected officials to discuss important issues affecting them.