Senate passes Second Chance Act reauthorization

Author

Image of Brett-Mattson.jpg

Brett Mattson

Legislative Director, Justice & Public Safety | Midsize County Caucus
Naomi Freel

Naomi Freel

Legislative Associate

Upcoming Events

Related News

2162840789

Key Takeaways

OCTOBER 22, 2025 UPDATE: On October 22, NACo sent a letter to the House Judiciary Committee leadership in support of the Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2025 (H.R. 3552/S.1843). Read NACo's letter of support here


October 9, 2025 UPDATE: Today, the U.S. Senate passed the Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2025 (S.1843) as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2026. The full package now moves to the U.S. House of Representatives, where House lawmakers will consider whether to maintain these provisions in their respective version of the NDAA.


On May 22, the Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2025 (H.R. 3552/S.1843) was introduced in the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives with robust bipartisan support. NACo supports this legislation, which would reauthorize funding for Second Chance Act (P.L. 110-199) programs through 2030.

Second Chance Reauthorization Act explained

Second Chance Act programs support America’s counties in improving reentry services, reducing recidivism and strengthening public safety. Enactment of the Second Chance Reauthorization Act would ensure the continued availability of critical reentry grant programs and expanding substance use treatment services and supportive housing for county residents.  

Specifically, this legislation would:

  • Support individuals reintegrating into their communities post-incarceration through the reauthorization of critical grants programs offering targeted services to justice-impacted individuals.  
  • Expand allowable uses for supportive and transitional housing services for those returning to their communities from a carceral setting.
  • Enhance substance use disorder treatment services, including peer recovery, case management and overdose prevention.

Importance to counties

The Second Chance Act authorizes federal grants that assist states, counties and nonprofit organizations in developing and implementing programs to help formerly incarcerated individuals successfully reintegrate into the community after their release from correctional facilities. Administered through the Office of Justice Programs at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Second Chance Act programs have helped numerous counties provide reentry services – like employment assistance, substance abuse and mental health treatment, housing, family-center programming and mentoring – to adults and juveniles returning to the community from prisons or jails.

Since its establishment in 2008, the Second Chance Act has funded more than 1,300 grants to state and local governments and nonprofit organizations, and more than a third of these grants have been awarded to counties. These investments in reentry programs have proven effective in helping individuals successfully reintegrate into their communities. Successful reintegration results in lower rates of recidivism, which improves public safety and provides significant savings to counties, who collectively spend $107 billion each year on criminal justice.  

See NACo’s Second Chance Act Advocacy 

Related News

FEMA
Advocacy

FEMA delays $11 billion in state disaster reimbursements

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently withheld roughly $11 billion in planned disaster reimbursements to 45 states, shifting the payments to fiscal year 2026 and marking a major change in how the federal government is managing disaster relief funding. 

A Pasquotank County, N.C. ambulance.
County News

Nuanced EMS response addresses paramedic shortage

Facing a shortage of paramedics, Pasquotank County, N.C. created a response program that better assigns its personnel to where their skills are most needed. 

Taylor Woodruff, executive director of Youth Serving Agencies Network member organization Alchemy Skateboarding, outlines his organization's community-based programming for court-involved youth centered around skateboarding and manufacturing skills. Photo by Bryce Wilkom
County News

New approach transforms youth justice in Pierce County

Since 2000, Pierce County, Wash. has achieved an 88% reduction in youth detention — even as the county’s overall population has grown by approximately 30% over the same period.