Congressman Cohen Hails Committee Vote to Give Ex-Offenders a Second Chance

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN), the Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, today voted for the bipartisan Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2015 (H.R. 3406) during a House Judiciary Committee meeting. This bill would authorize funding for government and nonprofit programs to help those re-entering society after prison sentences with employment and other vital services.

“I am pleased the House Judiciary Committee is taking steps to reform our criminal, justice system and reduce rates of recidivism,” said Congressman Cohen. “Our nation’s prison population has grown 500% in the last thirty years. More than 60% of this population are racial and ethnic minorities. For African American males in their thirties, 1 in 10 is in prison or jail on any given day. This is unconscionable. We need sentencing reform, but we also need to ensure that when people get out of prison, they have a chance to become productive, law-abiding citizens. When people have paid their debt to society, they need access to decent employment. But too often, they face significant barriers when looking for a job. We can and should work to remove these barriers to success.”

Congressman Cohen is an original cosponsor of the Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2015. A video of Congressman Cohen’s remarks at the House Judiciary Committee meeting can be found here.