Senate Needs to Take Action on the First Step Act NOW!

As many who follow our website and blogs know, the Republican controlled House of Representatives passed the First Step Act on May 22, 2018 and presented it to the Senate the day after. The First Step Act is a federal prison reform bill that will allow federal inmates to earn more time in alternative facilities such as Residential Reentry Centers (Halfway Houses) and Home Confinement upon successful completion of certain types of vocational and rehabilitative programs while in federal prison. It also would allow for a true 54 days of Good Time Credit rather than the Bureau of Prisons’ interpretation of only 47 days. The Senate has yet to take any substantive action on the First Step Act as certain senators on both sides of the aisle are pushing for a more expansive bill that would include sentencing reform as well. These senators are seeking a bill that would reduce prison sentences for large class of non-violent offenders. However, politics being what it is, there are other senators that, although they support the First Step Act, oppose the more expansive bill that includes sentencing reform. Thus, there is a standstill in the Senate as it appears that both the First Step Act and the proposed bill, known as the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act, may very well be considered DOA—Dead on Arrival. Our view at NPSC is simple: Although our nation and its federal inmates needs BOTH federal sentencing AND prison reform, a half a loaf is always better than no loaf at all. With the midterms a mere 54 days away, time is of the essence to urge your Senator to push for approval of the First Step Act. To find your Senator’s contact information click here. Of course, if you have any question please feel free to contact us at 615-696-6153 or at [email protected]