President Trump announced his support on Wednesday for a bipartisan criminal justice reform plan that would overhaul prison sentencing laws. The “First Step Act” is designed to improve rehabilitation programs for former prisoners and potentially ease sentences for non-violent crimes, like drug charges.
Trump backed the bill at a press conference at the White House, saying that the legislation would hopefully “make our communities safer and give former inmates a second chance at life after they have served their time.”
No signature from Trump will happen until the bill goes through the Senate, but his approval might sway Senate Republicans further towards supporting the bill.
“Today’s announcement shows that true bipartisanship is possible,” Trump said. “And maybe it’ll be thriving, if we’re going to get something done.”
According to the New York Times, the bill withdraws longstanding federal policies that disproportionately affected many black inmates. It’s also one of the first overhauls for prison sentencing in decades, Huffington Post reports.
Pres. Trump on criminal justice reform: “I’m thrilled to announce my support for this bipartisan bill that will make our community safer, and give former inmates a second chance at life after they have served their time.” pic.twitter.com/31SN1va5Cq
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) November 14, 2018
If the First Step Act is implemented, it will help inmates whose lives are impacted by the prison system. For instance, it will improve good time credits by “ensuring that incarcerated individuals can earn 54 days of good time credits per year, and not just the 47 days that BOP currently allows.”
It’ll also create incentive programs for current and former prisoners participating in programs. It allows “for 10 days in prerelease custody for every 30 days of successful participation, with no cap on the prerelease credit that can be earned.”
Other benefits include moving people within “500 driving miles of their families,” banning the use of restraints during and three months after a woman’s pregnancy, providing pads and tampons to incarcerated women at no cost and giving individuals a form of ID prior to release.
But a major reform would be in expanding inmates opportunities for employment and access to rehabilitation programs.
“We’re all better off when former inmates can receive and re-enter society as law-abiding, productive citizens,” Trump said.
Our pledge to hire American includes those leaving prison and looking for a very fresh start — new job, and new life. The legislation I am supporting today contains many significant reforms. Read more here: https://t.co/BwQ3qd9Fyk pic.twitter.com/6DUY9KNTpR
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 14, 2018
The legislation has already passed in the House of Representatives, and it has received overwhelming support from liberal and conservative groups. A bipartisan group of senators added more provisions over the summer after it did pass through the House. The group decreased the minimum sentence for drug-related crimes and lowered the “three strike” penalty from a life sentence to 25 years, according to Huffington Post.
Celebrities such as Kim Kardashian West and Alyssa Milano have advocated for the bill. According to Rolling Stone, over 50 celebrities signed a letter asking Congress to sign the bill before the December break.
The bill would need to be signed by then, and if it does pass in the Senate, Trump will sign the bill into legislation.