Prisoner reform bill takes page from Texas’ hymnal

Keeping our communities safe is one of my top priorities as the attorney general of Texas. Criminals will quickly find that the Lone Star State is the wrong place for their misdeeds and receive a stiff prison sentence. While they are in prison, we work to reform offenders to ensure that, upon release, they do not pose a threat to our friends and families. In fact, Texas is a national leader in many facets of criminal justice policy.

Now, the federal government has an opportunity to take a page from Texas’ playbook in H.R. 5682, the FIRST STEP Act, legislation I strongly support.

Passing the U.S. House of Representatives with a staggering 360-59 vote margin and unanimous support from the Freedom Caucus, this common-sense piece of legislation seeks to accomplish what we all want: safer communities. It is no wonder President Trump enthusiastically supports the bill.

Ninety-five percent of prisoners nationwide will one day be released and will return to our communities. We as conservatives must step up to ensure that when they do, they return ready to roll up their sleeves and contribute to society and not to reoffend. To accomplish this, this bill requires that federal inmates take responsibility for their own rehabilitation, awarding credits to those who participate in and complete recidivism-reducing programs such as education, job training and therapy. These credits accrue to allow transfer to community confinement, beginning the rehabilitated offender’s transition back into the community.

Thanks to an amendment by Texas’ congressman Louie Gohmert, the bill also prevents the federal Bureau of Prisons from discriminating against faith-based programming and volunteers. This reform has been long sought after by ministries that seek to share their faith and a path to redemption with inmates. Additionally, when permissible, the bill seeks to keep offenders closer to their families, which contributes to successful reentry into their communities.

The FIRST STEP Act improves rehabilitation and training offered in federal programs. The bill also creates a risk assessment tool that tells corrections officials who needs what in their facilities and clarifies the risk level of their offenders.

I’m equally supportive of what this bill does not do. No prisoner’s sentence is getting shorter due to this credit system, and serious offenders are blocked from accruing any credits. Much like here in Texas, if someone commits a serious or violent crime, the federal prison system is ensuring it has room to accommodate a long sentence.

Similar to Vice President Mike Pence’s philosophy during his time as governor of the state of Indiana, Texans want our state to be the “worst place in America to commit a serious crime, but best place for second chances.” We cannot ensure that each and every inmate will take advantage of these programs and take ownership of their own redemption, but for those who would, we need a system that supports that decision. We need to make America more like Texas, and this legislation is a good first step in doing so.