Second Chance Act Appropriations

This just in from the Justice Center Council of State Governments:

June 26, 2008 House includes $45 million for the Second Chance Act in pending appropriations bill On June 25, the House Appropriations Committee completed the mark-up of the 2009 appropriations bill, which reserves $45 million for programs under the Second Chance Act, $35 million for state and local reentry demonstration projects and $10 million for nonprofit grants for mentoring and transitional services. Last week the Senate Appropriations subcommittee reserved $20 million for Second Chance programs. Congressmen Danny K. Davis (D-IL) and Howard Coble (R-NC) worked closely with colleagues to ensure funding for the program in FY 2009. Criminal Justice Programs Appropriations Comparison Chart: (in millions) Program FY09 House Mark-Up FY09 Senate Mark-Up Second Chance Act $45 $20 Mentally Ill Offender Program $10 $12 Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grants $550 $580 COPS Program $627 $600 Drug Courts Program $40 $30 Residential Substance Abuse Treatment $10 $10 State Criminal Alien Assistance Program $420 $400 Mark-up of the appropriations bills is only a first step in the appropriations process this year. Both the House and Senate CJS bills will be sent to the floor for consideration. If Congress is unable to pass the spending bills, it will likely pass a continuing resolution (CR), which provides funding for existing federal programs at current or reduced levels. A CR would not include funding for any new programs, including the Second Chance Act. Hill staff report that it is too early to determine if the Committees will pass the spending bills or a continuing resolution. For more information on the Second Chance Act please click here or contact Elizabeth Dodd. The Council of State Governments Justice Center is a national nonprofit organization that serves policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels from all branches of government. It provides practical, nonpartisan advice and consensus-driven strategies-informed by available evidence-to increase public safety and strengthen communities. For more resources on reentry, please visit the Justice Center Reentry Policy Council website- http://www.reentrypolicy.org/.