Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3552
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-05-21: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-15T20:25:12Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2025 aims to extend and enhance programs under the Second Chance Act of 2007, which supports the successful reintegration of individuals returning to communities after incarceration. By reauthorizing key grants and adding specific services, the legislation focuses on reducing recidivism (repeat offenses) through improved access to treatment, education, employment, and housing.
Key Provisions
- Extension of Funding Periods: Authorizes funding for multiple programs from fiscal years 2026 through 2030, replacing previous authorizations that ended in 2023.
- Enhancements to Reentry Programs: Updates state and local reentry demonstration projects to include:
- Treatment for substance use disorders, such as peer recovery services (support from individuals with similar experiences), case management (coordinated planning for needs), and access to education on preventing overdoses plus reversal medications (like naloxone to reverse opioid overdoses).
- Provision of reentry housing services to help secure stable living arrangements post-release.
- Reauthorized Specific Grants:
- Family-based substance abuse treatment programs.
- Initiatives to evaluate and improve educational methods in prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities.
- Careers training demonstration grants for skill-building and job preparation.
- Offender reentry substance abuse and criminal justice collaboration programs.
- Community-based mentoring and transitional services grants for nonprofit organizations.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Extends authorization dates for all listed programs from 2019–2023 to 2026–2030, ensuring continued federal funding without interruptions.
- Adds two new priorities (substance use disorder treatment and reentry housing) to the state and local reentry demonstration projects under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, expanding the scope beyond prior focuses like employment and family support.
- No major structural overhauls, but these amendments build on the original Second Chance Act by emphasizing modern challenges like the opioid crisis.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of Justice and state/local governments will receive sustained grant funding, potentially increasing administrative workloads for program implementation and oversight but enabling broader service delivery.
- Citizens: Formerly incarcerated individuals may benefit from expanded support, leading to better rehabilitation outcomes, lower recidivism rates, and improved family stability. Communities could see reduced crime and substance abuse issues.
- International Relations: No direct impacts, as the legislation is focused on domestic criminal justice reforms.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Formerly Incarcerated Individuals: Primary beneficiaries through access to treatment, housing, education, and mentoring.
- Families and Communities: Gain from family treatment programs and safer neighborhoods via reduced recidivism.
- State and Local Governments: Eligible for demonstration project grants to fund reentry initiatives.
- Nonprofit Organizations: Receive grants for mentoring and transitional services.
- Correctional Facilities: Involved in educational and training programs for inmates.
- Bipartisan Lawmakers: Introduced by a diverse group of House representatives, indicating broad political support.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens federal support for rehabilitation-focused policies under existing crime control laws, without altering constitutional rights like due process or equal protection; promotes evidence-based practices to address mass incarceration.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Eighth Amendment principles against cruel and unusual punishment by emphasizing humane reentry over punitive measures.
- Political: Demonstrates bipartisan consensus on criminal justice reform, potentially influencing future legislation on sentencing and drug policy; could reduce long-term costs for prisons by investing in prevention, though funding levels depend on congressional appropriations.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1]
Cosponsors (31)
Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. LaHood, Darin [R-IL-16], Rep. Westerman, Bruce [R-AR-4], Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11], Rep. Lee, Laurel M. [R-FL-15], Rep. Smucker, Lloyd [R-PA-11], Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3], Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Turner, Michael R. [R-OH-10], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8], Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12], Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5], Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. Rogers, Mike D. [R-AL-3], Rep. Crawford, Eric A. "Rick" [R-AR-1], Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2], Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]
Recent Actions
- 2025-05-21: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-05-21: Introduced in House
- 2025-05-21: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2025 — issued 2025-05-21 — PDF (3 pages)