August 2, 2013 – JTMP strongly supports helping those in need in our communities, and one group often overlooked and facing real hurdles are people returning to the community after being incarcerated. We supported the "Second Chance Act" (P.L. 110-199) that was passed by the US Congress in 2007 and signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2008. This act establishes a National Adult and Juvenile Offender Reentry Resource center to help those reentering society. This act requires the Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons to assist those leaving incarceration in obtaining a Social Security Card, driver's license, or other official photo identification prior to release, and also help them apply for benefits such as veteran's benefits, SS benefits and more. JTMP wants to point out that the Attorney General and the Federal Bureau of Prisons can "implement these provisions at their discretion", so the "required to" is not really a requirement, so JTMP asks our supporters to contact their elected officials and the US Department of Justice and let them know you want the community to help these individuals as much as possible. Tell them you support the Second Chance Act, and hope it is being executed to its fullest extent. Read more about the Second Chance Act here. (Photo credit Clearly Ambiguous/Flickr)
