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**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          
                 Contact: Judith Kargbo**

**November 14,
2007                                                                                   
 (202) 225-3816          **

                                                                                                                              
 **(202) 225-7080**

**Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee Supports Second Chance Act of 2007**

Washington, DC --Today, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, senior Member
of the House Judiciary Committee released the following statement in
support of the H.R. 1593, "Second Chance Act of 2007":

"As a proud Co-sponsor of H.R. 1593, the "Second Chance Act of 2007," I
fully understand the urgency in assisting state and local governments in
better addressing the growing population of ex-offenders returning to
their homes and respective communities. America has more of its people
in prison than any other developed nation in the world - more than two
million. The vast majority, 95% of the men and women in our prisons will
eventually return to the community. That means that every year more than
650,000 offenders are released from state and federal prisons and return
to civilian life.

"The Second Chance Act of 2007 focuses on four areas: (1) the developing
and supporting programs that provide alternatives to incarceration; (2)
expanding the availability of substance abuse treatment; (3)
strengthening families; and (4) expanding comprehensive re-entry
services.

"This piece of legislation also includes and amendment I offered during
the Judiciary Committee markup of this bill in the 109^th^ Congress.
That amendment, incorporated in H.R. 1593 as Section 243 of the bill,
requires that the:

*Attorney General shall collect data and develop best practices of State
corrections departments and child protection agencies* relating to the
communication and coordination between such State departments and
agencies *to ensure the safety and support of children of incarcerated
parents* (including those in foster care and kinship care), and the
support of parent-child relationships between incarcerated (and formerly
incarcerated) parents and their children, as appropriate to the health
and well-being of the children.

"Maintaining strong parent-child bonds and enabling parents to improve
themselves in prison are possible only if child welfare and corrections
officials provide incarcerated parents and their children necessary
reunification services. Notwithstanding the limitations imposed by ASFA,
child welfare law requires states to make "reasonable efforts" to
facilitate family reunification. In light of the unique barriers to
family reunification families with incarcerated parents face,
"reasonable" reunification efforts must include not only services
tailored to the physical and emotional needs of parents and children
separated by prison walls, but also a reasonable time period in which to
draw meaningful and lasting benefits from such services both during and
after parental incarceration.

"I am proud to support Congressman Danny Davis's legislation H.R. 1593,
the "Second Chance Act of 2007." It is time for reform.  The public is
ready for it and so is the Congress and Administration. As a senior
Member of the House Judiciary Committee, I am committed to providing the
resources communities need to safely help ex-offenders reentry back into
society."

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