I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6055 
To amend title 18, United States Code, to encourage the placement of 
released Federal prisoners in residential reentry centers near their homes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 2, 2020 
Mr. LEWIS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To amend title 18, United States Code, to encourage the 
placement of released Federal prisoners in residential 
reentry centers near their homes. 
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 ‘‘Community Reentry 
Act of 2020’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds as follows: 
(1) Researchers find that visitation from family 
and community members help mitigate recidivism 
rates among incarcerated individuals. Removing geo-
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graphical barriers for inmates hoping to stay in 
touch with their families or members of their com-
munity may help lower recidivism rates. These con-
tinued relationships alleviate the risk of challenges 
such as unemployment, homelessness, and debt upon 
release. 
(2) In a study of inmates jailed close to home, 
the Vera Institute of Justice found that most par-
ticipants rely on family support to stay off of drugs 
and maintain requirements of parole as well as care 
for children. 
(3) According to the Vera study, more than 80 
percent of jailed respondents rely on family for sup-
port and more than 70 percent rely on friends. Even 
while incarcerated, inmates continue to rely heavily 
on their family and community outside of prison for 
basic needs and survival. 
(4) Family members report that distance is the 
greatest barrier to visiting incarcerated relatives 
while costs, such as transportation, follows. By re-
moving geographical and cost barriers, family mem-
bers of the incarcerated may have an opportunity to 
maintain a relationship with their incarcerated loved 
one. 
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(5) Incarcerated persons should be afforded op-
portunities to change and heal. Strengthening rela-
tionships between inmates and the family and com-
munity members they have left behind will help de-
crease recidivism rates and heal fragmented familial 
and community relationships. 
SEC. 3. PRERELEASE CUSTODY. 
Section 3624(c)(1) of title 18, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following: ‘‘Subject 
to the availability of appropriations and of bed space avail-
ability, the Director shall place a prisoner in a residential 
reentry center that is within 50 miles of the prisoner’s 
previous or anticipated permanent legal address, except 
when the prisoner waives his right to be placed in such 
a center for reasons such as— 
‘‘(A) safety of the prisoner or his family; 
‘‘(B) physical or mental health; or 
‘‘(C) any other reason deemed to be ac-
ceptable by the Director.’’. 
Æ 
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