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Enhanced Second Chance Act of 2004

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10718-10724)

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Oct 7, 2004

Enhanced Second Chance Act of 2004: Community Safety Through Recidivism Prevention or Enhanced Second Chance Act of 2004 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to reauthorize, rewrite, and expand provisions regarding adult and juvenile offender reentry demonstration projects, including by authorizing funds to: (1) provide structured post-release housing and transitional housing; (2) facilitate collaboration to promote the employment of people released from prison; and (3) establish or expand the use of reentry courts. Sets forth grant priorities and requirements, including that each State or local government recipient establish a Reentry Task Force or other relevant convening authority.

Authorizes the Attorney General to make a grant to provide for the establishment of a National Adult and Juvenile Offender Reentry Resource Center. Directs the Attorney General to establish an interagency task force on Federal programs and activities relating to offender reentry. Authorizes the National Institute of Justice and the Bureau of Justice Statistics to conduct research on offender reentry.

Directs: (1) the Secretary of Health and Human Services to review the role of State child protective services at the time of arrest and to establish services for the preservation of families impacted by the incarceration of a family member; (2) the Secretary of Labor to implement a program to educate employers about existing incentives to the hiring of former prisoners; and (3) the Department of Justice to modify existing procedures and policies to improve the transition of Federal prisoners into their communities.

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Who introduced it

Sen. Biden, Joseph R., Jr. [D-DE] · D–DE

Committees

  • Judiciary Committee
5 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10718-10724)

  2. Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10717-10718)

  3. Introduced in Senate

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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