Prison Fellowship In The News

On Tuesday, the House passed a bipartisan prison reform bill authored by Reps. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) and Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.). The First Step Act was approved by a 360-59 vote, and included the support of 134 Democrats.

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed prison reform legislation that would integrate faith-based programs into federal prisons to help prisoners prepare to successfully reenter society.

Prison Fellowship and criminal justice reform groups are praising the bipartisan passing of a comprehensive prison reentry reform bill backed by the White House in the United States House of Representatives Tuesday, even though there has been left-leaning criticism about the bill's lack of sentencing reform.

Years of prison reform advocacy is reaping fruit for Prison Fellowship with the passage of a bill termed a "first step" in rehabilitating federal prisoners and reducing recidivism.

"The FIRST STEP Act, which passed the House of Representatives Tuesday, has been a hot-button topic for Congress. It addresses the dire need for rehabilitative services in the federal prison system, proves there is strong bipartisan support for at least modest criminal justice reform and underscores a strategic debate that has split the Democratic Party."

"On this 10th anniversary of the signing of the Second Chance Act, we join the many individuals and families who know from experience successful re-entry to the community is possible, applaud the visionaries who challenge us to organize and act to create a better future, and encourage others to join in these efforts to ensure that justice reform continues unabated and that patients have access to needed treatment, regardless of the setting of care."

Prison Fellowship applauds members of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee for today's passage of the FIRST STEP Act in a strong, bipartisan vote. Reps. Doug Collins and Hakeem Jeffries introduced the prison reform initiative aimed at lowering recidivism and prison populations through rehabilitative programming.