Community Reentry and the Impact of the First Step Act

• In Event: 30662 - Section on Crime, Law, and Deviance Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 1: Policy Issues

Abstract

There are recurring criminal justice issues regarding the policy initiatives favoring punitive measures versus treatment or rehabilitative programs designed to deal with recidivism. The Second Chance Act 0f 2008 opened the door for further legislation favoring rehabilitation within penal institutions and aftercare following offender release. The First Step Act of 2018 was an important development toward initiating rehabilitation both within prisons and following incarceration. This paper examines the political and social climate underlying application of the First Step Act toward encouraging rehabilitation and the underlying challenges prompting calls for future legislative efforts.

Author

• Lloyd Klein, Laguardia Community College