Justice Programs
Justice Center’s government affairs team works to promote the priorities of CSG members and their partners on Capitol Hill and with the executive branch.
Legislative services include educating policymakers on complex criminal justice issues and communicating project findings to legislators that can be applied to policymaking and new practices.
The team collaborates with experts from a wide range of disciplines and from all branches of government to ensure that policy and legislative recommendations are practical and based on sound data.
U.S. House Appropriations Committee Approves Fiscal Year 2019 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Bill
Senator Tillis: Criminal Justice Reform Building Bipartisan Momentum
Passing the Justice Reinvestment Act in North Carolina wasn’t always a sure thing, especially since it initially faced a fair amount of skepticism from the right, with concerns that the bill was “soft on crime.” However, the more we educated members on the policy, the more support we built. In the end, the legislation passed with broad bipartisan support, and the results have been a case study for how successful and transformative criminal justice reform can be.
U.S. Senators Express Support for Vital Justice Programs
Senators in April took strong bipartisan action in support of three programs for FY2019—the Second Chance Act, the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act (MIOTCRA), and the Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI)—aimed at increasing public safety and reducing recidivism at the state and local level.
10-Year Anniversary of the Second Chance Act Celebrated on Capitol Hill
As policymakers continue to focus on the importance of safe and successful reentry among people leaving prisons and jails, and with President Trump designating April 2018 “Second Chance Month,” a group of national leaders paused recently to reflect on the impact of the Second Chance Act—a law passed in 2008 that has supported work to improve reentry outcomes in communities throughout the country.
President Donald J. Trump Proclaims April 2018 as Second Chance Month
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, each year, approximately 650,000 individuals complete prison sentences and rejoin society. Unfortunately, two-thirds of these individuals are re-arrested within 3 years of their release. We must do more—and use all the tools at our disposal—to break this vicious cycle of crime and diminish the rate of recidivism.
U.S. House Members Express Support for Key Justice Programs
Congressional leaders in March took strong bipartisan action in support of three programs in FY 2019—the Second Chance Act, the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act, and the Justice Reinvestment Initiative—aimed at increasing public safety and reducing recidivism at the local and state level.
Congress Approves FY18 Funding Levels for Criminal Justice Programs .
Recently, the U.S. Congress approved the $1.3 trillion Fiscal Year 2018 Omnibus Appropriations bill that would set government funding through Sep. 30, 2018. The bill provides $30.3 billion for the Department of Justice and includes $2.9 billion for various state and local law enforcement assistance grant programs.
Congressman Scott Taylor Supports Continued Funding for Second Chance Act
“I believe that helping nonviolent offenders get a second chance is a step in the right direction. That’s why I support funding for the Second Chance Act,” Congressman Scott Taylor (R-VA) said. Rehabilitation efforts, such as the ones in the Second Chance Act, will help statewide efforts to reduce the damaging cycle of recidivism.