Community Reentry Act of 2020

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- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Community Reentry 4 Act of 2020’’. 5 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 6 Congress finds as follows: 7 (1) Researchers find that visitation from family 8 and community members help mitigate recidivism 9 rates among incarcerated individuals. Removing geo- 10 VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:49 Mar 05, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6055.IH H6055 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 6055 IH graphical barriers for inmates hoping to stay in 1 touch with their families or members of their com- 2 munity may help lower recidivism rates. These con- 3 tinued relationships alleviate the risk of challenges 4 such as unemployment, homelessness, and debt upon 5 release. 6 (2) In a study of inmates jailed close to home, 7 the Vera Institute of Justice found that most par- 8 ticipants rely on family support to stay off of drugs 9 and maintain requirements of parole as well as care 10 for children. 11 (3) According to the Vera study, more than 80 12 percent of jailed respondents rely on family for sup- 13 port and more than 70 percent rely on friends. Even 14 while incarcerated, inmates continue to rely heavily 15 on their family and community outside of prison for 16 basic needs and survival. 17 (4) Family members report that distance is the 18 greatest barrier to visiting incarcerated relatives 19 while costs, such as transportation, follows. By re- 20 moving geographical and cost barriers, family mem- 21 bers of the incarcerated may have an opportunity to 22 maintain a relationship with their incarcerated loved 23 one. 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:49 Mar 05, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6055.IH H6055 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 6055 IH (5) Incarcerated persons should be afforded op- 1 portunities to change and heal. Strengthening rela- 2 tionships between inmates and the family and com- 3 munity members they have left behind will help de- 4 crease recidivism rates and heal fragmented familial 5 and community relationships. 6 SEC. 3. PRERELEASE CUSTODY. 7 Section 3624(c)(1) of title 18, United States Code, 8 is amended by adding at the end the following: ‘‘Subject 9 to the availability of appropriations and of bed space avail- 10 ability, the Director shall place a prisoner in a residential 11 reentry center that is within 50 miles of the prisoner’s 12 previous or anticipated permanent legal address, except 13 when the prisoner waives his right to be placed in such 14 a center for reasons such as— 15 ‘‘(A) safety of the prisoner or his family; 16 ‘‘(B) physical or mental health; or 17 ‘‘(C) any other reason deemed to be ac- 18 ceptable by the Director.’’. 19 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:49 Mar 05, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H6055.IH H6055 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS