On April 1st, President Donald Trump held the 2019 Prison Reform Summit at the White House to celebrate the passage and enactment of the FIRST STEP Act.
First Step Act: Promises Made, Promises Kept. pic.twitter.com/ITmzQpQQB7
— GOP (@GOP) April 3, 2019
The FIRST STEP Act is the first major criminal justice reform legislation enacted in decades which passed through Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support. The landmark bill enacted common sense criminal justice reform that is helping prisoners gain a new lease on life and is making America safer.
President Trump remarked during the ceremony that, “The more I met and spoke with those involved in our criminal justice system, the more clear it became that unfair sentencing rules were contributing to the cycle of poverty and crime like really nothing else before. It was time to fix this broken system — and it’s a system of the past — and to improve the lives of so many people.”
Honored to join @POTUS yesterday at the First Step Act Celebration where he recognized Americans who have been given a second chance due to this historic legislation. As @POTUS said, “We are proving we’re a nation that believes in redemption.” pic.twitter.com/kiKd7zpr4T
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) April 2, 2019
The FIRST STEP Act serves as a model for criminal justice reform at the state level and across the nation. It also ensures that those in prison are placed closer to their families and home communities so they can have that communication that they need, greatly easing their return to society.
The law rolls back provisions of the 1994 Clinton crime law that was so devastating to some many and that disproportionately impacted the African American community. In less than four months, more than 500 people with unfair sentences have been released from prison and are free to begin a new life.
Powerful moment from @realDonaldTrump’s Prison Reform Summit.
— Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) April 2, 2019
Gregory Allen, one the people who have benefited from the #FirstStepAct explained, "Two months ago, I was in a prison cell and [now] I'm in the White House. Let’s continue to make America great again!" pic.twitter.com/0qioKSBUMN
Inmates across the country are getting a second chance thanks to the FIRST STEP Act. The Trump Administration is committed to helping prisoners successfully rejoin society after their release.
President Trump hopes to continue building on the successes of the FIRST STEP Act as we work to continue fixing America’s broken criminal justice system.
Learn more about the FIRST STEP Act here.
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