Kamlager-Dove Introduces Criminal Justice Package to Support Reentry and Second Chances during National Reentry Week

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, during National Reentry Week, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) introduced a legislative package to support formerly incarcerated people upon reentry and beyond, while promoting second chances for incarcerated individuals and directly impacted children. This package includes the One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act, the Second Look Act, and the Directly Impacted Child Rehab and Safety Act, as well as a resolution designating the final week of April as National Reentry Week. The One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act is co-led by Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11).

These bills would establish one-stop community reentry centers and mentorship programs, establish pathways for incarcerated individuals to be released or have their sentences reduced, and protect and provide services to directly impacted children, respectively.

“Everyone deserves a second chance. But too often, the justice system prioritizes punishment over rehabilitation, disproportionately impacting Black and brown communities,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove. “Too few incarcerated people get another opportunity, and those who do often reenter society without help getting back on their feet—leading some to end up back in the system. I’m proud to introduce this legislative package that would ensure that justice-involved individuals both receive second chances and have the resources they need to succeed.”

“Improving our criminal justice system starts with investing in reentry programs. This bill ensures these programs are effective, impactful, and pushes us closer to a more equitable society that gives these members of our community a second chance,” said Congresswoman Shontel Brown.

"Amity Foundation is proud to support Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove's National Reentry Week package," said Doug Bond, CEO, Amity Foundation. "For over five decades, we have seen firsthand that people leaving incarceration need more than a second chance — they need real resources, real support, and a real path forward. This package delivers exactly that, and we are grateful to have a champion in Congress who understands that investing in reentry is investing in safer, stronger communities for all of us."

“Every year, hundreds of thousands of people are released to their communities. Once home, however, they face extraordinary barriers to reentering society despite having already served their time. That is not how fairness and justice should work. That is why we are proud to support these bills, which would offer incarcerated people avenues to rehabilitation and promote public safety. Most Americans believe in second chances. We urge legislators to pass these reforms without delay,” said JC Hendrickson, senior policy strategist in the justice program at the Brennan Center for Justice.

“People returning home after incarceration deserve a real chance to rebuild their lives with dignity, stability, and support. At the Coalition for Responsible Community Development, we see every day that access to housing, workforce training, and trusted community-based services can make a lasting difference for individuals, families, and neighborhoods. We are proud to support the National Reentry Week legislative package and efforts that help create stronger pathways to opportunity for people returning to their communities,” said Mark Wilson, President & CEO of Coalition for Responsible Community Development.

"FAMM is excited to endorse legislation that addresses unfair sentencing, and we stand in solidarity with Rep. Kamlager-Dove and countless advocates nationwide in this ongoing fight.  We support second-look laws because people change over time, and imprisoning people long past the point of necessity makes no one safer," said Kevin Hagan, Federal Legislative Affairs Director at the Families Against Mandatory Minimums Foundation.

“Children are entitled to safety, dignity, and treatment that reflects their age and development. This legislation is an important affirmation that young people should not be subjected to adult punishment or adult incarceration. Human Rights for Kids is proud to support this effort to bring federal law closer to basic human rights principles and better outcomes for children,” said Teresa Kominos, Senior Policy Counsel, Human Rights for Kids.

"The effects of incarceration don’t end at the gate. Rather, collateral consequences follow people through their release, undermining their ability to secure housing, steady employment, education, and financial stability. The Prison Policy Initiative is happy to support this National Reentry Week legislative package that both recognizes the difficulty of reentry and creates meaningful resources for those navigating it. These bills also create protections for children facing federal prosecution and establish a meaningful path to release through Second Look legislation – key reforms that make the federal justice system fairer and more humane," said Sarah Staudt, Director of Policy and Advocacy at Prison Policy Initiative.

“Every stage of this package reflects a simple but urgent truth—that people are more than their worst moment, and public safety is strengthened when the justice system invests in people, not just punishment. From youth justice to sentencing reform and reentry support, these bills recognize that accountability and redemption can—and must—coexist, and our policies should reflect that capacity for growth and change,” said Aiden Cotter, Director of Federal Advocacy at the Vera Institute of Justice.

Full descriptions of the bills included in this package and bill text are below:

The One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act was passed by the House during the 117th Congress and is cosponsored by Reps. Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Hank Johnson (GA-04), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Nydia Velazquez (NY-07). This bill would:

• Authorize $10 million annually for a DOJ grant program dedicated to establishing holistic community reentry resource centers that offer a comprehensive range of services in a single location, including housing, job training, and mental health counseling;
• Establish DOJ grants for states, tribal areas, and local governments to operate 24/7 reentry services assistance hotlines; and
• Create mentorship opportunities by utilizing formerly incarcerated individuals as mentors.

The Second Look Act, cosponsored by Reps. Steve Cohen (TN-09), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Hank Johnson (GA-04), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Nydia Velazquez (NY-07), would:

• Provide a “second look” to incarcerated individuals who have served for at least 10 years through a petition for a sentence reduction; 
• Create a rebuttable presumption of release for petitioners who are 50 years of age or older on the date of the petition;
• Establish factors for courts to consider in determining whether a person should be released or have their sentence reduced, including:
  • reentry readiness;
  • a recommendation from BOP;
  • age at the time of offense and at the time of application;
  • the nature of the offense and the person’s role in the offense;
  • any history of mental health or trauma;
  • family and community circumstances; and
  • the safety of the community.
• Mandate the United States Sentencing Commission issue a report to Congress detailing the effect of the provision, including the racial impact.

The Directly Impacted Child Rehab and Safety Act, cosponsored by Reps. Steve Cohen (TN-09), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Hank Johnson (GA-04), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Nydia Velazquez (NY-07), would:

• Define a “juvenile” within federal court jurisdiction as a minor between the ages 12 and 18 and prohibit children under the age of 13 from being prosecuted for crimes in federal court;
• Raise the age for discretionary federal adjudication of a child in adult proceedings from 15 years old to 16 years old;
• Prohibit placement of juveniles in federal adult correctional facilities;
• Require federal data collection related to juveniles adjudicated in federal criminal jurisdiction or detained in federal custody for crimes committed as juveniles;
• Eliminate applying the felony murder rule to juveniles, which allows a defendant to be charged with first-degree murder for a killing that occurs during a dangerous felony, even if the defendant is not the killer; and
• Authorize an HHS grant program under the Marylee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program for trauma-focused, developmentally appropriate services are delivered by multidisciplinary teams that will create treatment plans with the children, family, stakeholders, and service providers.

The National Reentry Week Resolution, cosponsored by Reps. Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Danny Davis (IL-07), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Hank Johnson (GA-04), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Nydia Velazquez (NY-07), would: 

• Designate the final week of April as “National Reentry Week;” and
• Encourage the dedication of resources to the employment, education, behavioral health, and housing of the 600,000 Americans that reenter society every year after prison.

Bills included in this package are endorsed by: the Amity Foundation, the Brennan Center For Justice, the Coalition for Responsible Community Development, the Families Against Mandatory Minimums Foundation (FAMM), Human Rights for Kids, the Los Angeles Regional Reentry Partnership, the NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, the Prison Policy Initiative, the Reentry Working Group, and the Vera Institute of Justice.