I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1704 
To reauthorize the grant program of the Department of Justice for reentry 
of offenders into the community, to establish a task force on Federal 
programs and activities relating to the reentry of offenders into the 
community, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 19, 2005 
Mr. PORTMAN (for himself, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. COBLE, Mrs. JONES 
of Ohio, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. CANNON, Ms. HARRIS, Mr. 
TOM DAVIS of Virginia, Mr. EHLERS, Mr. GILCHREST, Ms. LEE, Mr. 
OWENS, Mr. SHIMKUS, Ms. SOLIS, Mr. WYNN, Mr. BACHUS, Mr. SHAYS, 
Mr. PAYNE, Mr. RUPPERSBERGER, Mr. FORD, Mrs. JOHNSON of Con-
necticut, Mr. WESTMORELAND, Mr. BERMAN, Mr. RANGEL, Ms. WOOL-
SEY, Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island, Ms. KAPTUR, and Ms. JACKSON- 
LEE of Texas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Edu-
cation and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by 
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall with-
in the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To reauthorize the grant program of the Department of 
Justice for reentry of offenders into the community, to 
establish a task force on Federal programs and activities 
relating to the reentry of offenders into the community, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Second Chance Act 
of 2005: Community Safety Through Recidivism Preven-
tion’’ or the ‘‘Second Chance Act of 2005’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) In 2002, 2,000,000 people were incarcer-
ated in Federal or State prisons or in local jails. 
Nearly 650,000 people are released from incarcer-
ation to communities nationwide each year. 
(2) There are over 3,200 jails throughout the 
United States, the vast majority of which are oper-
ated by county governments. Each year, these jails 
will release in excess of 10,000,000 people back into 
the community. 
(3) Nearly two-thirds of released State pris-
oners are expected to be rearrested for a felony or 
serious misdemeanor within three years after re-
lease. 
(4) In his 2004 State of the Union address, 
President Bush correctly stated: ‘‘We know from 
long experience that if [former prisoners] can’t find 
work, or a home, or help, they are much more likely 
to commit more crimes and return to prison. . . . 
America is the land of the second chance, and when
the gates of the prison open, the path ahead should 
lead to a better life.’’ 
(5) In recent years, a number of States and 
local governments have begun to establish improved 
systems for reintegrating former prisoners. Under 
such systems, corrections officials begin to plan for 
a prisoner’s release while the prisoner is incarcerated 
and provide a transition to needed services in the 
community. After offenders are released, local gov-
ernments and community agencies coordinate and 
provide a continuation of reentry services. 
(6) Faith leaders and parishioners have a long 
history helping ex-offenders transform their lives. 
Through prison ministries and outreach in commu-
nities, churches and faith-based organizations have 
pioneered reentry services to prisoners and their 
families. 
(7) Successful reentry protects those who might 
otherwise be crime victims. It also improves the like-
lihood that individuals released from prison or juve-
nile detention facilities can pay fines, fees, restitu-
tion, and provide family support. 
(8) According to the Bureau of Justice Statis-
tics, expenditures on corrections alone increased 
from $9,000,000,000 in 1982 to $44,000,000,000 in
1997. These figures do not include the cost of arrest 
and prosecution, nor do they take into account the 
cost to victims. 
(9) Increased recidivism results in profound col-
lateral consequences, including public health risks, 
homelessness, unemployment, and disenfranchise-
ment. 
(10) The high prevalence of infectious disease, 
substance abuse, and mental health disorders that 
has been found in incarcerated populations demands 
that a recovery model of treatment should be used 
for handling the more than two-thirds of all offend-
ers with such needs. 
(11) One of the most significant costs of pris-
oner reentry is the impact on children, the weakened 
ties among family members, and destabilized com-
munities. The long-term generational effects of mul-
tiple family member involvement in the justice sys-
tem and lack of role models presents a great risk to 
children. 
(12) According to the 2001 national data from 
the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 3,500,000 parents 
were supervised by the correctional system. Prior to 
incarceration, 64 percent of female prisoners and 44
percent of male prisoners in State facilities lived 
with their children. 
(13) Between 1991 and 1999, the number of 
children with a parent in a Federal or State correc-
tional facility increased by more than 100 percent, 
from 
approximately 
900,000 
to 
approximately 
2,000,000. According to the Bureau of Prisons, 
there is evidence to suggest that inmates who are 
connected to their children and families are more 
likely to avoid negative incidents and have reduced 
sentences. 
(14) Released prisoners cite family support as 
the most important factor in helping them stay out 
of prison. Research suggests that families are an 
often underutilized resource in the reentry process. 
(15) Approximately 100,000 juveniles (ages 17 
and under) leave juvenile correctional facilities, State 
prison, or Federal prison each year. Juveniles re-
leased from confinement still have their likely prime 
crime years ahead of them. Juveniles released from 
secure confinement have a recidivism rate ranging 
from 55 to 75 percent. The chances that young peo-
ple will successfully transition into society improve 
with effective reentry and aftercare programs.
(16) Studies have shown that from 15 percent 
to 27 percent of prisoners expect to go to homeless 
shelters upon release from prison. 
(17) The National Institute of Justice has 
found that after one year of release, up to 60 per-
cent of former inmates are not employed. 
(18) Fifty-seven percent of Federal and 70 per-
cent of State inmates used drugs regularly before 
prison, with some estimates of involvement with 
drugs or alcohol around the time of the offense as 
high as 84 percent (BJS Trends in State Parole, 
1990–2000). 
(19) According to the Bureau of Justice Statis-
tics, 60 to 83 percent of the Nation’s correctional 
population have used drugs at some point in their 
lives. This is twice the estimated drug use of the 
total United States population of 40 percent. 
(20) Family-based treatment programs have 
proven results for serving the special population of 
female offenders and substance abusers with chil-
dren. An evaluation by the Substance Abuse and 
Mental Health Services Administration of family- 
based treatment for substance abusing mothers and 
children found that at six months post treatment, 60 
percent of the mothers remain alcohol and drug free,
and drug related offenses declined from 28 to 7 per-
cent. Additionally, a 2003 evaluation of residential 
family based treatment programs revealed that 60 
percent of mothers remained clean and sober six 
months after treatment, criminal arrests declined by 
43 percent, and 88 percent of the children treated 
in the program with their mothers remain stabilized. 
(21) A Bureau of Justice Statistics analysis in-
dicated that only 33 percent of Federal and 36 per-
cent of State inmates had participated in residential 
inpatient treatment programs for alcohol and drug 
abuse 12 months before their release. Further, over 
one-third of all jail inmates have some physical or 
mental disability and 25 percent of jail inmates have 
been treated at some time for a mental or emotional 
problem. 
(22) According to the National Institute of Lit-
eracy, 70 percent of all prisoners function at the two 
lowest literacy levels. 
(23) The Bureau of Justice Statistics has found 
that 27 percent of Federal inmates, 40 percent of 
State inmates, and 47 percent of local jail inmates 
have never completed high school or its equivalent. 
Furthermore, the Bureau of Justice Statistics has 
found that less educated inmates are more likely to
be recidivists. Only 1 in 4 local jails offer basic adult 
education programs. 
(24) Participation in State correctional edu-
cation programs lowers the likelihood of reincarcer-
ation by 29 percent, according to a recent United 
States Department of Education study. A Federal 
Bureau of Prisons study found a 33 percent drop in 
recidivism among federal prisoners who participated 
in vocational and apprenticeship training. 
SEC. 3. REAUTHORIZATION OF ADULT AND JUVENILE OF-
FENDER STATE AND LOCAL REENTRY DEM-
ONSTRATION PROJECTS. 
(a) ADULT AND JUVENILE OFFENDER DEMONSTRA-
TION PROJECTS AUTHORIZED.—Section 2976 of the Om-
nibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 
U.S.C. 3797w) is amended in subsection (b) by striking 
paragraphs (1) through (4) and inserting the following 
new paragraphs: 
‘‘(1) establishing or improving the system or 
systems under which— 
‘‘(A) the correctional agency of the State 
or local government develops and carries out 
plans to facilitate the reentry into the commu-
nity of each offender in State or local custody;
‘‘(B) the supervision and services provided 
to offenders in State or local custody are co-
ordinated with the supervision and services pro-
vided to offenders after reentry into the com-
munity; 
‘‘(C) the efforts of various public and pri-
vate entities to provide supervision and services 
to offenders after reentry into the community, 
and to family members of such offenders, are 
coordinated; and 
‘‘(D) offenders awaiting reentry into the 
community are provided with documents (such 
as identification papers, referrals to services, 
medical prescriptions, job training certificates, 
apprenticeship papers, and information on ob-
taining public assistance) useful in achieving a 
successful transition from prison; 
‘‘(2) carrying out programs and initiatives by 
units of local government to strengthen reentry serv-
ices for individuals released from local jails; 
‘‘(3) enabling prison mentors of offenders to re-
main in contact with those offenders, including 
through 
the 
use 
of 
such 
technology 
as 
videoconferencing, during incarceration and after re-
entry into the community and encouraging the in-
volvement of prison mentors in the reentry process; 
‘‘(4) providing structured post-release housing 
and transitional housing, including group homes for 
recovering substance abusers, through which offend-
ers are provided supervision and services imme-
diately following reentry into the community; 
‘‘(5) assisting offenders in securing permanent 
housing upon release or following a stay in transi-
tional housing; 
‘‘(6) providing continuity of health services (in-
cluding screening, assessment, and aftercare for 
mental health services, substance abuse treatment 
and aftercare, and treatment for contagious dis-
eases) to offenders in custody and after reentry into 
the community; 
‘‘(7) providing offenders with education, job 
training, English as a second language programs, 
work experience programs, self-respect and life skills 
training, and other skills useful in achieving a suc-
cessful transition from prison; 
‘‘(8) facilitating collaboration among corrections 
and community corrections, technical schools, com-
munity colleges, and the workforce development and 
employment service sectors to—
‘‘(A) promote, where appropriate, the em-
ployment of people released from prison and 
jail, through efforts such as educating employ-
ers about existing financial incentives and facili-
tate the creation of job opportunities, including 
transitional jobs, for this population that will 
benefit communities; 
‘‘(B) connect inmates to employment, in-
cluding supportive employment and employment 
services, before their release to the community 
and identify labor market needs to ensure edu-
cation and training are appropriate; and 
‘‘(C) addressing barriers to employment, 
including licensing; 
‘‘(9) providing literacy and educational service 
for offenders; 
‘‘(10) systems under which family members of 
offenders are involved in facilitating the successful 
reentry of those offenders into the community, in-
cluding removing obstacles to the maintenance of 
family relationships while the offender is in custody, 
strengthening the family’s capacity to function as a 
stable living situation during reentry where appro-
priate, and involving family members in the planning 
and implementation of the reentry process;
‘‘(11) programs under which victims are in-
cluded, on a voluntary basis, in the reentry process; 
‘‘(12) programs that facilitate visitation and 
maintenance of family relationships with respect to 
offenders in custody by addressing obstacles such as 
travel, telephone costs, mail restrictions, and restric-
tive visitation policies; 
‘‘(13) identifying and addressing barriers to col-
laborating with child welfare agencies in the provi-
sion of services jointly to offenders in custody and 
to the children of such offenders; 
‘‘(14) carrying out programs that support chil-
dren of incarcerated parents, including those in fos-
ter care and those cared for by grandparents or 
other relatives, commonly referred to as kinship 
care, including mentoring children of prisoners pro-
grams; 
‘‘(15) carrying out programs for the entire fam-
ily unit, including the coordination of service delivery 
across agencies; 
‘‘(16) implementing programs in correctional 
agencies to include the collection of information re-
garding any dependent children of an incarcerated 
person as part of intake procedures, including the 
number of children, age, and location or jurisdiction,
and connect identified children with services as ap-
propriate and needed; 
‘‘(17) creating, developing, or enhancing pris-
oner and family assessments curricula, policies, pro-
cedures, or programs (including mentoring pro-
grams) to help prisoners with a history or identified 
risk of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual as-
sault, or stalking; 
‘‘(18) developing programs and activities that 
support parent-child relationships as appropriate to 
the health and wellbeing of the child, including the 
use of technology. 
‘‘(19) expanding family-based treatment (which 
consists of programs that provide evidence-based 
treatment services in tandem with other human serv-
ices to parents and children as a unit) centers that 
offer family-based comprehensive treatment services 
for parents and their children as a complete family 
unit; 
‘‘(20) conducting studies to determine who is 
returning to prison or jail and which of those return-
ing prisoners represent the greatest risk to commu-
nity safety;
‘‘(21) developing or adopting procedures to en-
sure that dangerous felons are not released from 
prison prematurely; 
‘‘(22) developing and implementing procedures 
to assist relevant authorities in determining when re-
lease is appropriate and in the use of data to inform 
the release decision; 
‘‘(23) developing and implementing procedures 
to identify efficiently and effectively those violators 
of probation or parole who should be returned to 
prison; 
‘‘(24) utilizing validated assessment tools to as-
sess the risk factors of returning inmates and 
prioritizing services based on risk; 
‘‘(25) facilitating and encouraging timely and 
complete payment of restitution and fines by ex-of-
fenders to victims and the community; 
‘‘(26) establishing or expanding the use of re-
entry courts to— 
‘‘(A) monitor offenders returning to the 
community; 
‘‘(B) provide returning offenders with— 
‘‘(i) drug and alcohol testing and 
treatment; and
‘‘(ii) mental and medical health as-
sessment and services; 
‘‘(C) facilitate restorative justice practices 
and convene family or community impact pan-
els, family impact educational classes, victim 
impact panels, or victim impact educational 
classes; 
‘‘(D) provide and coordinate the delivery of 
other community services to offenders, includ-
ing— 
‘‘(i) housing assistance; 
‘‘(ii) education; 
‘‘(iii) employment training; 
‘‘(iv) children and family support; 
‘‘(v) conflict resolution skills training; 
‘‘(vi) family violence intervention pro-
grams; 
‘‘(vii) other appropriate social serv-
ices; and 
‘‘(viii) culturally and linguistically 
competent services where appropriate; and 
‘‘(E) establish and implement graduated 
sanctions and incentives; 
‘‘(27) providing technology and other tools to 
advance post release supervision; and
‘‘(28) studying and improving the collection of 
data with respect to, individuals whose supervised 
release is revoked and which such individuals rep-
resent the greatest risk to community safety.’’. 
(b) 
JUVENILE
OFFENDER
DEMONSTRATION 
PROJECTS
REAUTHORIZED.—Such section is further 
amended in subsection (c) by striking ‘‘may be expended 
for’’ and all that follows through the period at the end 
and inserting ‘‘may be expended for any activity referred 
to in subsection (b).’’. 
(c) 
APPLICATIONS; 
PRIORITIES; 
PERFORMANCE 
MEASUREMENTS.—Such section is further amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (h) as sub-
section (o); and 
(2) by striking subsections (d) through (g) and 
inserting the following new subsections: 
‘‘(d) APPLICATIONS.—A State, unit of local govern-
ment, territory, or Indian tribe, or combination thereof de-
siring a grant under this section shall submit an applica-
tion to the Attorney General that— 
‘‘(1) contains a reentry strategic plan, which 
describes the long-term strategy, and a detailed im-
plementation schedule, including the jurisdiction’s 
plans to pay for the program after the Federal fund-
ing is discontinued;
‘‘(2) identifies the local government role and 
the role of governmental agencies and nonprofit or-
ganizations that will be coordinated by, and collabo-
rate on, the applicant’s prisoner reentry strategy 
and certifies their involvement; and 
‘‘(3) describes the methodology and outcome 
measures that will be used in evaluating the pro-
gram. 
‘‘(e) PRIORITY CONSIDERATION.—The Attorney Gen-
eral shall give priority to grant applications that best— 
‘‘(1) focus initiative on geographic areas with a 
high population of ex-offenders; 
‘‘(2) include partnerships with nonprofit organi-
zations; 
‘‘(3) provide consultations with crime victims 
and former incarcerated prisoners and their families; 
‘‘(4) review the process by which the State and 
local governments adjudicates violations of parole or 
probation or supervised release and consider reforms 
to maximize the use of graduated, community-based 
sanctions for minor and technical violations of parole 
or supervised release; 
‘‘(5) establish pre-release planning procedures 
for prisoners to ensure that a prisoner’s eligibility 
for Federal or State benefits (including Medicaid,
Medicare, Social Security, and Veterans benefits) 
upon release is established prior to release, subject 
to any limitations in law, and to ensure that pris-
oners are provided with referrals to appropriate so-
cial and health services or are linked to appropriate 
nonprofit organizations; and 
‘‘(6) target high-risk offenders for reentry pro-
grams through validated assessment tools. 
‘‘(f) REQUIREMENTS.—The Attorney General may 
make a grant to an applicant only if the application— 
‘‘(1) reflects explicit support of the chief execu-
tive officer of the State or unit of local government, 
territory, or Indian tribe applying for a grant under 
this section; 
‘‘(2) provides extensive discussion of the role of 
State corrections departments, community correc-
tions agencies, juvenile justice systems, or local jail 
systems in ensuring successful reentry of ex-offend-
ers into their communities; 
‘‘(3) provides extensive evidence of collaboration 
with State and local government agencies overseeing 
health, housing, child welfare, education, substance 
abuse, and employment services, and local law en-
forcement;
‘‘(4) provides a plan for analysis of existing 
State, local, territorial, and tribal statutory, regu-
latory, rules-based, and practice-based hurdles to a 
prisoner’s reintegration into the community that— 
‘‘(A) takes particular note of and makes 
recommendations with respect to laws, regula-
tions, rules, and practices that: disqualify 
former prisoners from obtaining professional li-
censes or other requirements necessary for cer-
tain types of employment, and that hinder full 
civic participation; and 
‘‘(B) identifies and makes recommenda-
tions with respect to those laws, regulations, 
rules, or practices that are not directly con-
nected to the crime committed and the risk that 
the ex-offender presents to the community; and 
‘‘(5) includes the use of a State, tribal, terri-
torial, or local task force to carry out the activities 
funded under the grant. 
‘‘(g) USES OF GRANT FUNDS.— 
‘‘(1) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of a 
grant received under this section may not exceed 75 
percent of the project funded under the grant, unless 
the Attorney General—
‘‘(A) waives, in whole or in part, the re-
quirement of this paragraph; and 
‘‘(B) publicly delineates the rationale for 
the waiver. 
‘‘(2) SUPPLEMENT
NOT
SUPPLANT.—Federal 
funds received under this section shall be used to 
supplement, not supplant, non-Federal funds that 
would otherwise be available for the activities funded 
under this section. 
‘‘(h) REENTRY STRATEGIC PLAN.— 
‘‘(1) As a condition of receiving financial assist-
ance under this section, each applicant shall develop 
a comprehensive strategic reentry plan that contains 
measurable annual and 5- to 10-year performance 
outcomes. The plan shall have as a goal to reduce 
the rate of recidivism of incarcerated persons served 
with funds from this section within the State by 50 
percent over a period of 10 years. 
‘‘(2) In developing reentry plans under this sub-
section, applicants shall coordinate with communities 
and stakeholders, including the fields of public safe-
ty, corrections, housing, health, education, substance 
abuse, children and families, employment, business 
and members of nonprofit organizations that provide 
reentry services.
‘‘(3) Each reentry plan developed under this 
subsection shall measure the applicant’s progress to-
ward increasing public safety by reducing rates of 
recidivism and enabling released offenders to transi-
tion successfully back into their communities. 
‘‘(i) REENTRY TASK FORCE.—As a condition of re-
ceiving financial assistance under this section, each State, 
territory, tribal, or local government receiving a grant 
shall establish or use a Reentry Task Force or other rel-
evant convening authority to examine ways to pool existing 
resources and funding streams to promote lower recidi-
vism rates for returning prisoners and to minimize the 
harmful effects of incarceration on families and commu-
nities by collecting data and best practices in offender re-
entry from demonstration grantees and other agencies and 
organizations. The task force or other authority shall be 
comprised of relevant State, tribal, territorial, or local 
leaders, agencies, service providers, nonprofit organiza-
tions, or stakeholders. Include a public participating com-
ponent in the task force. If a task force or similar entity 
already exists, use that body to work on the above tasks. 
‘‘(j) STRATEGIC PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES.— 
‘‘(1) Each applicant shall identify specific per-
formance outcomes related to the long-term goals of 
increasing public safety and reducing recidivism.
‘‘(2) The performance outcomes identified 
under paragraph (1) shall include, with respect to 
offenders released back into the community— 
‘‘(A) recommitment rates; 
‘‘(B) reduction in crime; 
‘‘(C) employment and education; 
‘‘(D) violations of conditions of supervised 
release; 
‘‘(E) child support; 
‘‘(F) housing; 
‘‘(G) drug and alcohol abuse; and 
‘‘(H) participation in mental health serv-
ices. 
‘‘(3) States may also report on other activities 
that increase the success rates of offenders who 
transition from prison, such as programs that foster 
effective risk management and treatment program-
ming, offender accountability, and community and 
victim participation. 
‘‘(4) Applicants should coordinate with commu-
nities and stakeholders about the selection of per-
formance outcomes identified by the applicants and 
with the Department of Justice for assistance with 
data collection and measurement activities.
‘‘(5) Each grantee shall submit an annual re-
port to the Department of Justice that— 
‘‘(A) identifies the grantee’s progress to-
ward achieving its strategic performance out-
comes; and 
‘‘(B) describes other activities conducted 
by the grantee to increase the success rates of 
the reentry population. 
‘‘(k) PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT.— 
‘‘(1) The Department of Justice shall, in con-
sultation with the States— 
‘‘(A) identify primary and secondary 
sources of information to support the measure-
ment of the performance indicators identified 
under this section; 
‘‘(B) identify sources and methods of data 
collection in support of performance measure-
ment required under this section; 
‘‘(C) provide to all grantees technical as-
sistance and training on performance measures 
and data collection for purposes of this section; 
and 
‘‘(D) coordinate with the Substance Abuse 
and Mental Health Services Administration on 
strategic performance outcome measures and
data collection for purposes of this section relat-
ing to substance abuse and mental health. 
‘‘(2) The Department of Justice shall coordi-
nate with other Federal agencies to identify national 
sources of information to support State performance 
measurement. 
‘‘(l) FUTURE ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive 
a grant under this section for fiscal years after the first 
receipt of such a grant, a State shall submit to the Attor-
ney General such information as is necessary to dem-
onstrate that— 
‘‘(1) the State has adopted a reentry plan that 
reflects input from nonprofit organizations; 
‘‘(2) the State’s reentry plan includes perform-
ance measures to assess the State’s progress toward 
increasing public safety by reducing by 10 percent 
over the 2-year period the rate at which individuals 
released from prison who participate in the reentry 
system supported by Federal funds are recommitted 
to prison; and 
‘‘(3) the State will coordinate with the Depart-
ment of Justice, nonprofit organizations, and other 
experts regarding the selection and implementation 
of the performance measures described in subsection 
(k).
‘‘(m) NATIONAL ADULT AND JUVENILE OFFENDER 
REENTRY RESOURCE CENTER.— 
‘‘(1) The Attorney General may, using amounts 
made available to carry out this subsection, make a 
grant to an eligible organization to provide for the 
establishment of a National Adult and Juvenile Of-
fender Reentry Resource Center. 
‘‘(2) An organization eligible for the grant 
under paragraph (1) is any national nonprofit orga-
nization approved by the Federal task force estab-
lished under the Second Chance Act of 2005 that 
represents, provides technical assistance and train-
ing to, and has special expertise and broad, national- 
level experience in offender reentry programs, train-
ing, and research. 
‘‘(3) The organization receiving the grant shall 
establish a National Adult and Juvenile Offender 
Reentry Resource Center to— 
‘‘(A) provide education, training, and tech-
nical assistance for States, local governments, 
service providers, nonprofit organizations, and 
corrections institutions; 
‘‘(B) collect data and best practices in of-
fender reentry from demonstration grantees and 
others agencies and organizations;
‘‘(C) develop and disseminate evaluation 
tools, mechanisms, and measures to better as-
sess and document coalition performance meas-
ures and outcomes; 
‘‘(D) disseminate knowledge to States and 
other relevant entities about best practices, pol-
icy standards, and research findings; 
‘‘(E) develop and implement procedures to 
assist relevant authorities in determining when 
release is appropriate and in the use of data to 
inform the release decision; 
‘‘(F) develop and implement procedures to 
identify efficiently and effectively those violators 
of probation or parole who should be returned 
to prison and those who should receive other 
penalties based on defined, graduated sanctions; 
‘‘(G) collaborate with the Federal task 
force established under the Second Chance Act 
of 2005 and the Federal Resource Center for 
Children of Prisoners; 
‘‘(H) develop a national research agenda; 
and 
‘‘(I) bridge the gap between research and 
practice by translating knowledge from research 
into practical information.
‘‘(4) Of amounts made available to carry out 
this section, not more than 4 percent shall be avail-
able to carry out this subsection. 
‘‘(n) FEDERAL RESOURCE CENTER FOR CHILDREN 
OF PRISONERS.—There are authorized to be appropriated 
for each of fiscal years 2006 and 2007, such sums as may 
be necessary for the continuing activities of the Federal 
Resource Center for Children of Prisoners, including re-
view of policies and practices of State and Federal correc-
tions to support parent-child relationships. Funds shall be 
transmitted to the Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices to work in collaboration with the Department of Jus-
tice for program administration. 
‘‘(o) ADMINISTRATION.—Of amounts made available 
to carry out this section, not more than 2 percent shall 
be available for administrative expenses in carrying out 
this section.’’. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—Such 
section is further amended in paragraph (1) of subsection 
(o) (as redesignated by subsection (c)) by striking ‘‘and 
$16,000,000 for fiscal year 2005’’ and inserting 
‘‘$40,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, and $40,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2007’’.
SEC. 4. TASK FORCE ON FEDERAL PROGRAMS AND ACTIVI-
TIES RELATING TO REENTRY OF OFFENDERS. 
(a) TASK FORCE REQUIRED.—The Attorney General, 
in consultation with the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of 
Education, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Agri-
culture, and the heads of such other elements of the Fed-
eral Government as the Attorney General considers appro-
priate, and in collaboration with stakeholders, service pro-
viders, nonprofit organizations, States, and local govern-
ments, shall establish an interagency task force on Federal 
programs and activities relating to the reentry of offenders 
into the community. 
(b) DUTIES.—The task force required by subsection 
(a) shall— 
(1) identify such programs and activities that 
may be resulting in overlapping or duplication of 
services, the scope of such overlapping or duplica-
tion, and the relationship of such overlapping and 
duplication to public safety, public health, and effec-
tiveness and efficiency; 
(2) identify methods to improve collaboration 
and coordination of such programs and activities; 
(3) identify areas of responsibility in which im-
proved collaboration and coordination of such pro-
grams and activities would result in increased effec-
tiveness or efficiency; 
(4) develop innovative interagency or intergov-
ernmental programs, activities, or procedures that 
would improve outcomes of reentering offenders and 
children of offenders; 
(5) develop methods for increasing regular com-
munication that would increase interagency program 
effectiveness; 
(6) identify areas of research that can be co-
ordinated across agencies with an emphasis on ap-
plying science-based practices to support, treatment, 
and intervention programs for reentering offenders; 
(7) identify funding areas that should be co-
ordinated across agencies and any gaps in funding; 
and 
(8) in collaboration with the National Adult and 
Juvenile Offender Reentry Resources Center identify 
successful programs currently operating and collect 
best practices in offender reentry from demonstra-
tion grantees and other agencies and organizations, 
determine the extent to which such programs and 
practices can be replicated, and make information on 
such programs and practices available to States, lo-
calities, nonprofit organizations, and others.
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the task force required by 
subsection (a) shall submit a report, including rec-
ommendations, to Congress on barriers to reentry. The re-
port shall identify Federal and other barriers to successful 
reentry of offenders into the community and analyze the 
effects of such barriers on offenders and on children and 
other family members of offenders, including— 
(1) admissions and evictions from Federal hous-
ing programs; 
(2) child support obligations and procedures; 
(3) Social Security benefits, Veterans benefits, 
food stamps, and other forms of Federal public as-
sistance; 
(4) Medicaid and Medicare procedures, require-
ments, regulations, and guidelines; 
(5) education programs, financial assistance, 
and full civic participation; 
(6) TANF program funding criteria and other 
welfare benefits; 
(7) employment; 
(8) reentry procedures, case planning, and tran-
sitions of persons from the custody of the Federal 
Bureau of Prisons to a Federal parole or probation 
program or community corrections;
(9) laws, regulations, rules, and practices that 
may require a parolee to return to the same county 
that they were living in before their arrest and 
therefore prevent offenders from changing their set-
ting upon release; and 
(10) trying to establish pre-release planning 
procedures for prisoners to ensure that a prisoner’s 
eligibility for Federal or State benefits (including 
Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security and Veterans 
benefits) upon release is established prior to release, 
subject to any limitations in law; and to ensure that 
prisoners are provided with referrals to appropriate 
social and health services or are linked to appro-
priate nonprofit organizations. 
(d) ANNUAL REPORTS.—On an annual basis, the 
task force required by subsection (a) shall submit to Con-
gress a report on the activities of the task force, including 
specific recommendations of the task force on matters re-
ferred to in subsection (b). 
SEC. 5. OFFENDER REENTRY RESEARCH. 
(a) NATIONAL
INSTITUTE
OF
JUSTICE.—From 
amounts made available to carry out this Act, the National 
Institute of Justice may conduct research on offender re-
entry, including—
(1) a study identifying the number and charac-
teristics of children who have had a parent incarcer-
ated and the likelihood of these minors becoming in-
volved in the criminal justice system some time in 
their lifetime; 
(2) a study identifying a mechanism to compare 
rates of recidivism (including re-arrest, violations of 
parole and probation, and re-incarceration) among 
States; and 
(3) a study on the population of individuals re-
leased from custody who do not engage in recidivism 
and the characteristics (housing, employment, treat-
ment, family connection) of that population. 
(b) 
BUREAU
OF
JUSTICE
STATISTICS.—From 
amounts made available to carry out this Act, the Bureau 
of Justice Statistics may conduct research on offender re-
entry, including— 
(1) an analysis of special populations, including 
prisoners with mental illness or substance abuse dis-
orders, female offenders, juvenile offenders, limited 
English proficiency, and the elderly, that present 
unique reentry challenges; 
(2) studies to determine who is returning to 
prison or jail and which of those returning prisoners 
represent the greatest risk to community safety;
(3) annual reports on the profile of the popu-
lation coming out of prisons, jails, and juvenile jus-
tice facilities; 
(4) a national recidivism study every three 
years; and 
(5) a study of parole violations and revocations. 
SEC. 6. CHILDREN OF INCARCERATED PARENTS AND FAMI-
LIES. 
The Secretary of Health and Human Services may— 
(1) review, and make available to States a re-
port on any recommendations regarding, the role of 
State child protective services at the time of the ar-
rest of a person; and 
(2) by regulation, establish such services as the 
Secretary determines necessary for the preservation 
of families that have been impacted by the incarcer-
ation of a family member. 
SEC. 7. ENCOURAGEMENT OF EMPLOYMENT OF FORMER 
PRISONERS. 
The Secretary of Labor shall take such steps as are 
necessary to implement a program, including but not lim-
ited to the Employment and Training Administration, to 
educate employers about one-stop centers, existing incen-
tives, including the Federal bonding program, for the hir-
ing of former Federal, State, or county prisoners and tax 
credits. 
SEC. 8. CLARIFICATION OF AUTHORITY TO PLACE PRIS-
ONER IN COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS. 
(a) PLACE OF IMPRISONMENT.—Section 3621 of title 
18, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (c) through (e) 
as subsections (d) through (f), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol-
lowing new subsection (c): 
‘‘(c) COMMUNITY
CORRECTION
FACILITIES.—For 
purposes of designations made under this section, the 
terms ‘place of the prisoner’s imprisonment’ and ‘available 
penal or correctional facility’ do not include a community 
corrections center, community treatment center, ‘halfway 
house,’ or similar facility that does not confine residents 
in the manner of a prison or jail.’’. 
(b) PRE-RELEASE CUSTODY.—Section 3624(c) of 
title 18, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘a reasonable part, not to ex-
ceed 6 months, of the last 10 per centum of the 
term to be served’’ and inserting ‘‘a reasonable part 
of the last 20 percent of the term to be served, not 
to exceed 6 months’’; and
(2) by inserting after ‘‘home confinement’’ the 
following: ‘‘for the last 20 percent of the term to be 
served, not to exceed 12 months’’. 
SEC. 
9. 
USE 
OF 
VIOLENT 
OFFENDER 
TRUTH-IN-SEN-
TENCING GRANT FUNDING FOR DEMONSTRA-
TION PROJECT ACTIVITIES. 
Section 20102(a) of the Violent Crime Control and 
Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 13702(a)) is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(2) in paragraph (3) by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(4) to carry out any activity referred to in sec-
tion 2976(b) of the Omnibus Crime Control and 
Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797w(b)).’’. 
SEC. 10. IMPROVEMENT OF THE RESIDENTIAL SUBSTANCE 
ABUSE TREATMENT FOR STATE PRISONERS 
PROGRAM. 
(a) DEFINITION.—Section 1902 of the Omnibus 
Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 
3796ff–1) is amended by redesignating subsections (c) 
through (f) as subsections (d) through (g), respectively,
and by inserting after subsection (b) the following new 
subsection: 
‘‘(c) RESIDENTIAL
SUBSTANCE
ABUSE
TREAT-
MENT.—The term ‘residential substance abuse treatment’ 
means a course of individual and group activities and 
treatment, lasting at least 6 months, in residential treat-
ment facilities set apart from the general prison popu-
lation.’’. 
(b) REQUIREMENT FOR AFTER CARE COMPONENT.— 
Section 1902 of such Act is further amended in subsection 
(d) (as redesignated by subsection (a)) is amended— 
(1) in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘ELI-
GIBILITY
FOR PREFERENCE WITH AFTER CARE 
COMPONENT’’ and inserting ‘‘REQUIREMENT
FOR 
AFTER CARE COMPONENT’’; 
(2) by amending paragraph (1) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(1) To be eligible for funding under this part, 
a State must ensure that individuals who participate 
in the substance abuse treatment program estab-
lished or implemented with assistance provided 
under this part will be provided with aftercare serv-
ices.’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph:
‘‘(4) Aftercare services required by this sub-
section shall be funded by the funding provided in 
this part.’’. 
SEC. 11. RESIDENTIAL DRUG ABUSE PROGRAM IN FEDERAL 
PRISONS. 
Section 3621(e)(5)(A) of title 18, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘means a course of’’ and 
all that follows through the semicolon at the end and in-
serting the following: ‘‘means a course of individual and 
group activities and treatment, lasting at least 6 months, 
in residential treatment facilities set apart from the gen-
eral prison population;’’. 
SEC. 12. TECHNICAL AMENDMENT TO DRUG-FREE STU-
DENT LOANS PROVISION TO ENSURE THAT IT 
APPLIES ONLY TO OFFENSES COMMITTED 
WHILE RECEIVING FEDERAL AID. 
Section 484(r)(1) of the Higher Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1091(r)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘A 
student’’ and all that follows through ‘‘table:’’ and insert-
ing the following: ‘‘A student who is convicted of any of-
fense under any Federal or State law involving the posses-
sion or sale of a controlled substance for conduct that oc-
curred during a period of enrollment for which the student 
was receiving any grant, loan, or work assistance under 
this title shall not be eligible to receive any grant, loan,
or work assistance under this title from the date of that 
conviction for the period of time specified in the following 
table:’’. 
SEC. 13. MENTORING GRANTS TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZA-
TIONS. 
(a) AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS.—From amounts 
made available to carry out this section, the Attorney Gen-
eral in collaboration with the Department of Labor shall 
make grants to nonprofit organizations for the purpose of 
providing mentoring and other transitional services essen-
tial to reintegrating ex-offenders. 
(b) USE
OF FUNDS.—Funds for the mentoring 
grants may be expended for— 
(1) mentoring of adult and juvenile offenders 
during incarceration, through transition back to the 
community and post release; and 
(2) transitional services to assist in the re-
integration of ex-offenders into the community. 
(c) APPLICATION.—To apply for a grant under this 
section, a nonprofit organization shall submit an applica-
tion to the Attorney General based on criteria developed 
by the Attorney General in consultation with the Secretary 
of Labor and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Devel-
opment.
(d) STRATEGIC PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES.—The At-
torney General shall require each applicant to identify spe-
cific performance outcomes related to the long-term goal 
of stabilizing communities by reducing recidivism and re- 
integrating ex-offenders into society. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 and 2007. 
SEC. 14. CARLIE’S LAW. 
(a) PROBATION.—Section 3565(b) of title 18, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of paragraph 
(3); and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (4) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(5) commits a crime of violence against, or an 
offense that consists of or is intended to facilitate 
unlawful sexual contact (as defined in section 2246) 
with, a person who has not attained the age of 16 
years;’’. 
(b) SUPERVISED RELEASE.—Section 3583(g) of title 
18, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of paragraph 
(3); and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (4) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(5) commits a crime of violence against, or an 
offense that consists of or is intended to facilitate 
unlawful sexual contact (as defined in section 2246) 
with, a person who has not attained the age of 16 
years;’’. 
Æ