Re Entry Center

Speaking of Second Chances, here is a link to Baltimore's program, called Re-entry Center (ReC) for Ex Offender re-entry assistance. I'll be meeting with Felix Mata, who heads up the center, and Ann Hosmer of PowerExcel, another ex-offender-assistance guru, tomorrow. That surely seems likely to result in a productive meeting of the minds.

UPDATE: Here is a little more on the Second Chance Act of 2007, courtesy of FAMM..

The Second Chance Act has a real chance!
4/3/07

Designed to reduce recidivism and increase public safety by addressing the needs of prisoners preparing to return to communities from the criminal justice system, the Second Chance Act has been introduced in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

On March 20, Representative Danny Davis (D-Ill.) and 14 members of the House of Representatives from both parties introduced H.R. 1593, the Second Chance Act of 2007. On March 28, H.R. 1593 was discussed and "marked up" in the House judiciary committee. While amendments to limit some of the services included in the act were introduced, they were ultimately defeated and the bill passed unchanged out of the House judiciary committee. The bill will now be sent to the House floor for full consideration.

On March 30, Senators Joe Biden (D-Del.), Arlen Specter (R-Penn.), Sam Brownback (R-Kans.), and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) introduced S. 1060, the Senate version of the Second Chance Act.

Read testimony and watch the House judiciary committee debate H.R. 1593 on March 20, 2007.

• The HIRE Network website contains an analysis of the legislation.
• Read the full text of H.R. 1593 on THOMAS.