IACJ "Take Action" Alert - Ensure Second Chance Act Funding for Illinois

Welcome to the IACJ eNewsletter...your source for timely information on criminal justice policy and practice in Illinois. IACJ "TAKE ACTION" ALERT As you know, The Second Chance Act is federal legislation passed with overwhelming bipartisan support and signed into law in April 2008. It employs an evidence-based approach to improving outcomes for people returning to communities from prisons and jails by authorizing federal grants to government agencies and nonprofit organizations to provide employment assistance, substance abuse treatment, housing, family programming, mentoring, victims support, and other services that can help reduce recidivism. Recently, the Senate eliminated funding for the Second Chance Act in their version of the FY 12 funding bill for the Department of Justice. In July, the House Appropriations Committee provided $70 million in their fiscal year 2012 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill. WHAT YOU CAN DO Although funding was eliminated in the Senate bill, there is still time to restore funding for the program when the House and Senate Appropriations Committees attempt to resolve differences between the two spending bills. The Senate and House are working on FY12 funding now. To contact your Members of Congress and ask them to support funding for Second Chance Act, click here. For more information on criminal justice issues and opportunities, and how you can get involved, visit illinoiscriminaljustice.org