Photo Courtesy of the Federal Bureau of Prisons
Federal Correctional Institution Fort Dix in New Jersey
By Michael V. Cusenza
President Donald Trump recently urged members of Congress to get behind the Formerly Incarcerated Reenter Society Transformed Safely Transitioning Every Person—FIRST STEP—Act, a bipartisan measure that aims to promote prisoner participation in vocational training, educational coursework, or faith-based programs, and in turn help them successfully reenter society.
“Our whole nation benefits if former inmates are able to reenter society as productive, law-abiding citizens,” Trump said.
According to the White House, the FIRST STEP Act highlights include:
Prisoners will be able to earn credits that reduce the amount of time spent in prison. As a result, prisoners will gain job skills, drug treatment, and education that prepare them to reenter American communities as productive members of society.
The legislation seeks to place federal inmates closer to their communities in order to facilitate family visitation. The White House has called the bill a “true first step” in creating a fairer justice system by reforming mandatory minimums, which have created racially discriminatory outcomes and increased overcrowding and costs.
FIRST STEP would also reduce the enhanced penalties for certain non-violent repeat drug offenders and eliminates the three-strike mandatory life provision. This specific population will be able to petition courts for a review of their sentence, which can be reduced only after the judge reviews all circumstances, including public safety, criminal history, and the nature of the offense.
According to a coalition of groups supporting FIRST STEP, the legislation also seeks to provide dignity for female inmates by banning the shackling of pregnant women and extending those protections to three months after her pregnancy. In addition, the bill requires that BOP provide sanitary napkins and tampons to incarcerated women at no cost.
The measure aims to expand compassionate release by reducing the minimum age of prisoner eligibility for elderly release from 65 years of age to 60 years of age, and minimum time served of prisoner eligibility for elderly release from 75 percent to 2/3. It also expands the program to all prisons. Finally, it allows the incarcerated individuals to seek relief under the program directly from a court so that administrative hurdles within the BOP do not hamper one’s ability to be released.
“Throughout this process, my administration has worked closely with law enforcement. Their backing has ensured that this legislation remains tough on crime—it’s got to remain very tough on crime—and supports the tremendous work of our police and the tremendous job that law enforcement does throughout our country, our communities. They do an incredible job. We have great respect for law enforcement,” Trump said last week. “Americans from across the political spectrum can unite around prison reform legislation that will reduce crime while giving our fellow citizens a chance at redemption. So if something happens and they make a mistake, they get a second chance at life.”
Trump later added that FIRST STEP “shows that true bipartisanship is possible. And maybe it’ll be thriving, if we’re going to get something done. When Republicans and Democrats talk, debate, and seek common ground, we can achieve breakthroughs that move our country forward and deliver for our citizens.”
