SR-45, As Adopted by Senate, April 24, 2007

            Senators Cropsey, Kahn and Brater offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 45.

            A resolution to memorialize the United States Congress to enact the Second Chance Act to help juvenile and adult ex-offenders to successfully reenter their communities.

            Whereas, The transition from confinement to release presents both great risks and opportunities for young ex-offenders and the communities in which they live. Unsuccessful transitions into the community can result in an alarmingly high recidivism rate for offenders. Effective reentry programs can reduce recidivism rates by providing the necessary support and resources to guide ex-offenders through a successful transition from confinement to community life; and

            Whereas, Comprehensive reentry programs are especially effective among young people. With their development still in progress, young ex-offenders are more amenable to effective behavior modification interventions, thus saving lives, anguish, and public tax dollars. An example of an effective program that reduces recidivism is Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC). This program provides services to youth and their families to assist in the transition from confinement to reentry into the community. MTFC includes ongoing supervision, frequent contact, and coordination of services with the youth's probation officer, teachers, and other involved adults. Studies show that youths in MTFC were less likely to turn back to crime compared to ex-offenders in residential group homes; and

            Whereas, Research-based reentry programs such as MTFC not only reduce crime, but they are also cost effective. Currently, many young people are released unconditionally when they "age-out" of juvenile court jurisdiction and are not provided access to family reunification or aftercare services. Such unconditional releases increase the likelihood that ex-offenders will return to crime. MTFC and similar programs could save taxpayers thousands of dollars and could save innocent people the heartache of suffering from a criminal attack; and

            Whereas, The Second Chance Act calls for an authorization of around $200 million over two years to assist ex-offenders in making a successful transition from confinement to release into the community. The United States Department of Justice would administer demonstration grants to states and local governments to provide and coordinate reentry programs for juvenile and adult offenders. This legislation includes family reunification services, job training, education, housing, and substance abuse and mental health services. This legislation would establish a federal interagency task force on offender reentry, provide research on reentry, and create a national resource center to collect and disseminate information on best practices in offender reentry; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate, That we memorialize the United States Congress to enact the Second Chance Act to help juvenile and adult ex-offenders to successfully reenter their communities; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.