Community Reentry Act of 2020

Community Reentry Act of 2020

This bill modifies requirements with respect to the prerelease placement of inmates in residential reentry centers. Specifically, it requires the Bureau of Prisons to place a prisoner in a residential reentry center that is within 50 miles of the prisoner's previous or anticipated permanent legal address, subject to bed space availability. A prisoner may waive the right to be placed in such a center for reasons such as health or safety.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6055 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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 Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Community Reentry Act of 2020''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds as follows:
            (1) Researchers find that visitation from family and 
        community members help mitigate recidivism rates among 
        incarcerated individuals. Removing geographical barriers for 
        inmates hoping to stay in touch with their families or members 
        of their community may help lower recidivism rates. These 
        continued relationships alleviate the risk of challenges such 
        as unemployment, homelessness, and debt upon release.
            (2) In a study of inmates jailed close to home, the Vera 
        Institute of Justice found that most participants rely on 
        family support to stay off of drugs and maintain requirements 
        of parole as well as care for children.
            (3) According to the Vera study, more than 80 percent of 
        jailed respondents rely on family for support and more than 70 
        percent rely on friends. Even while incarcerated, inmates 
        continue to rely heavily on their family and community outside 
        of prison for basic needs and survival.
            (4) Family members report that distance is the greatest 
        barrier to visiting incarcerated relatives while costs, such as 
        transportation, follows. By removing geographical and cost 
        barriers, family members of the incarcerated may have an 
        opportunity to maintain a relationship with their incarcerated 
        loved one.
            (5) Incarcerated persons should be afforded opportunities 
        to change and heal. Strengthening relationships between inmates 
        and the family and community members they have left behind will 
        help decrease recidivism rates and heal fragmented familial and 
        community relationships.

SEC. 3. PRERELEASE CUSTODY.

    Section 3624(c)(1) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following: ``Subject to the availability of 
appropriations and of bed space availability, the Director shall place 
a prisoner in a residential reentry center that is within 50 miles of 
the prisoner's previous or anticipated permanent legal address, except 
when the prisoner waives his right to be placed in such a center for 
reasons such as--
                    ``(A) safety of the prisoner or his family;
                    ``(B) physical or mental health; or
                    ``(C) any other reason deemed to be acceptable by 
                the Director.''.
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