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The Hill
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Prison reform laws could safely send thousands home — if they're enforced
The two of us have spent a good chunk of our lives on opposite sides of prison bars. One of us worked for 16 years in the federal Bureau of Prisons, including a stretch as acting director during the first Trump administration. The other spent 14 years in federal prison before fighting to help hundreds of thousands of incarcerated people earn their freedom and successfully reenter society. Despite these different backgrounds — or perhaps because of them — we agree on one thing: Our criminal justice system can and must do much more to enhance safety and justice for all Americans. That's why we were encouraged when, last month, the Bureau of Prisons quietly issued a new directive that will help incarcerated individuals return more quickly to their families and communities. Although we are optimistic, the devil is in the details. For this policy to succeed, it must be implemented fairly and consistently for all who qualify. The U.S. has made real progress on criminal justice over the past few decades. The crime rate has declined 61 percent since its peak in 1991. The prison population has shrunk by roughly 25 percent since 2009, and racial disparities have dropped by 40 percent. This progress came from thoughtful, bipartisan reforms. Between 2007 and 2018, 35 states passed sentencing and corrections reform laws. At the federal level, two landmark measures — the Second Chance Act and First Step Act — stand out. Signed in 2008 by President George W. Bush, the Second Chance Act funds state and local programs that help incarcerated people reenter their communities. Ten years later, Trump signed the First Step Act, which modified mandatory minimums, expanded opportunities for people to earn time credits toward early release and increased access to rehabilitative and vocational programs. Many were surprised when Trump, who had promised tougher sentences as he campaigned for office, championed the First Step Act. But he pressured Republicans in Congress to support it and enthusiastically signed it into law, calling it proof that 'America is a nation that believes in redemption.' In his second term, Trump has sent mixed signals so far. His Justice Department cut more than $500 million in state and local criminal justice grants, and Attorney General Pam Bondi rolled out new tough-on-crime policies. At the same time, Trump created a new 'pardon czar' position to advise him on presidential clemency decisions, appointing Alice Marie Johnson — who served over 20 years in federal prison before receiving clemency from Trump — to the role. The latest advancement came in June when Bureau of Prisons Director William K. Marshall III directed the bureau to fully implement both the Second Chance Act and First Step Act. Declaring 'the dawn of a new era,' Marshall promised the policy change would save money, reduce strains on corrections staff and facilities and make it easier for many incarcerated people to return home and contribute to society. This latter point is the centerpiece of the First Step Act. The act allows low-risk individuals who complete rehabilitative programs to earn 'time credits' which can be applied toward early release or to serve the remainder of their sentences in home confinement or residential reentry centers. Since its passage, the First Step Act has proven effective. A Council on Criminal Justice analysis found that individuals released under the First Step Act were 55 percent less likely to return to prison than people with similar profiles released before the law took effect. These lower recidivism rates held even among those considered higher risk by the Bureau of Prisons. Yet challenges remain. Despite receiving more than $400 million annually under the First Step Act, the Bureau of Prisons has long claimed it lacks the contract capacity to support home confinement and reentry centers. There has also been confusion about whether the First Step Act and Second Chance Act could be applied simultaneously. Both the Biden and Trump administrations initially said they could not, before allowing it. The new Bureau of Prisons policy promises to solve these issues, but its success will depend on implementation. The director's message must reach and be embraced by all corners of the system. We have seen encouraging signs thus far. This month, the Bureau of Prisons launched a task force to address logistical hurdles faced by staff — a promising step toward ensuring the policy is put into practice. Going forward, we see three top priorities. First, communication. With over 155,000 employees, the Bureau of Prisons must ensure every staff member understands this policy and why it matters. Second, training. Too often, people remain behind bars simply because staff aren't properly trained on how to apply the law. And third, accountability. Bureau of Prisons leaders must quickly address any staff who resist the changes — whether through correction or removal. In the early months of Trump's second term, we have seen America's political divides on display, from the 'big beautiful bill' to the bombing of Iran to new tariffs. Criminal justice reform should be an exception. It offers a rare opportunity for common ground — a chance to advance solutions that make our communities both safer and more just. Hugh Hurwitz worked for the Bureau of Prisons for more than 16 years, including as acting director during the first Trump administration, and is a member of the Council on Criminal Justice. Louis L. Reed, who served nearly 14 years in federal prison and later helped pass over 30 state and federal bills, including the First Step Act of 2018. He is a member of the Council on Criminal Justice's Board of Trustees.
Newsweek
30-06-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Florida Laws Changing on July 1: From Condos To Dangerous Dogs
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Over 100 new laws will come into effect from Tuesday in Florida, according to local media, concerning everything from health and property to animal welfare. Many are in response to observed issues concerning the health of student athletes as well as other threats to Floridians such as opioids and dangerous dogs. What Florida Laws Will Change on July 1? Drawn from media reports and state legislation, below are some of the most significant new laws taking effect in Florida from Tuesday. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during a press conference on May 1, 2025, in Miramar, Florida. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during a press conference on May 1, 2025, in Miramar, 1514: Anaphylaxis in Public and Charter Schools The bill, approved by Governor Ron DeSantis in May, requires each district and charter school board to ensure that adequate training is provided to school personnel regarding anaphylactic shocks—potentially life-threatening reactions to allergens. Training should ensure that school personnel are able to recognize the signs of anaphylaxis and know how to administer an epinephrine delivery device, or EpiPen. SB 1070: Electrocardiograms for Student Athletes The bill, also known as the "Second Chance Act," requires the Florida High School Athletic Association to increase the use of electrocardiogram (EKG) tests for student athletes and adopt policies barring students with abnormal EKGs from participating in sports without medical clearance. It mandates athletes to complete at least one screening before participating in interscholastic athletic competitions. It comes after a student from Port St. Joe High School student died while competing in a football game in September last year. HB 597: Diabetes Management in Schools The bill, referred to the House of Representative's educational and health subcommittees, aims to ensure schools are better equipped to handle diabetic emergencies. It authorizes schools to maintain stocks of undesignated glucagon, a medication used to treat severe hypoglycemia, authorizing flexible acquisition options such as via purchase, reduced pricing, free donation and transferred supplies that meet certain safety standards. It also requires that these glucagon supplies be kept in secure and easily accessible storage. HB 593: Dangerous Dogs The "Pam Rock Act" is aimed at regulating dangerous dogs and increasing the penalty for owners whose pets cause serious injury or death. The bill, unanimously passed in both chambers, was named after Pamela Rock, a woman killed in 2022 by a group of dogs with known histories of aggressive behaviour. HB 593 requires that dogs which have killed or seriously injured a human be confiscated, and that owners of dogs classified as dangerous obtain liability insurance of at least $100,000, microchip the dogs and securely confine them in suitable enclosures. HB 255: Aggravated Animal Cruelty Otherwise known as "Dexter's Law," this provides harsher sentences for individuals involved in aggravated cases of animal cruelty, while making it more likely that those found guilty of these crimes will go to prison. The bill was named after Dexter, a rescue dog who was adopted in 2024 and found beheaded in a public park days later. The bill will also create an online database of convicted animal abusers, allowing pet adoption services to screen applicants. HB 351: Dangerous Excessive Speeding This bill will impose harsher penalties and jail time for those who exceed speed limits by 50 miles per hour or more, or those who operate a vehicle at 100 mph or more "in a manner that threatens the safety of other persons or property or interferes with the operation of any vehicle." Those convicted of "dangerous excessive speeding" will face imprisonment of up to 30 days, a fine of $500 or both. Subsequent convictions will be punishable by up to 90 days in jail, a fine of $1,000 or both. HB 913: Condominium and Cooperative Associations The bill prohibits anyone whose community association manager (CAM) license is revoked from having any ownership interest in a community association management firm—a company contracted by a homeowner's association to handle the day-to-day management of a community—for a specified period. CAMS must also maintain up-to-date online accounts with Florida's Department of Business and Professional Regulation. SB 1388: Vessels The "Boater Freedom Act" is designed to safeguard access to Florida's waters and reduce regulatory impediments for boaters. It bars local government entities from banning gas-powered boats, prohibits authorities from conducting vessel inspections without probable case, and directs the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to proactively provide Florida Freedom Boater decals which will demonstrate to law enforcement that boaters have "taken the necessary steps to maintain proper safety requirements," per a statement on the governor's website. HB 279: False Reporting HB 279 aims to increase the penalties for those who misuse emergency communication services, specifically in cases where this results in serious harm or death. If found guilty of making false emergency calls—or "swatting"—individuals will have to pay restitution to victims as well as expenses incurred by law enforcement. SB 994: Driver License Education Requirements The bill requires that anyone aged 18 or older applying for a driver license must first complete a traffic law and substance abuse education course. Learner driver licenses may also be issued for anyone aged 15 who has completed an approved driver education course. HB 259: Special Observances HB 259 designates August 21 as Florida's Fentanyl Awareness & Education Day, encouraging schools to "sponsor events to promote awareness of dangers of fentanyl & potential overdoses" on this date. HB 549: Gulf of America This bill requires state agencies to rename the Gulf of Mexico in all geographic materials, reflecting the change adopted at the federal level earlier this year. The bill also mandates that public and charter schools adopt the new name in instructional and library materials after July 1. HB 209: State Land Management The legislation, also referred to as the "State Park Preservation Act," mandates that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) encourage the protection of the state's public lands for recreational use. HB 209, which passed both chambers unanimously, also encourages transparency from the DEP regarding the use of public lands with public hearings and publicly available electronic copies of land management plans for parcels of a certain size and those located in state parks. SB 700: Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Also known as the "Florida Farm Bill," this was signed into law by DeSantis in May. It introduces several departmental reforms, including expanded authority over hiring practices, giving the agency greater flexibility in staffing decisions. While it does not specifically mention the word fluoride, the bill bans "the use of certain additives in a water system" which do not meet strict new requirements. In effect, this will make Florida the second state after Utah to ban fluoride from public drinking water. What People Are Saying Florida Representative Judson Sapp, who sponsored the Dangerous Dogs bill, said: "This bill addresses the rising number of attacks and fatalities caused by dangerous dogs in Florida by clearly defining what constitutes a dangerous dog, establishing a tracking system, and providing a process for removal when necessary. At the same time, it includes safeguards to prevent misidentification and protect responsible pet owners." Florida Representative Anne Gerwig, sponsor of the Special Observances bill, said: "Thousands of lives are lost every year due to opioid and fentanyl overdoses and this particularly affects our young adults and youth. Some lives are lost due to unintentional exposure including babies, young children and public servants that come into contact with this drug. The pain of addiction and the loss of lives due to fentanyl touches almost every family. "Bringing awareness of the dangers and hope for those that need it can change lives. By bringing attention to the fact that almost 60,000 lives were lost to fentanyl last year, we can spread awareness of this deadly crisis."
Forbes
17-06-2025
- Forbes
Bureau Of Prisons Retracts Rule, Truly Expands Halfway House
Each year, thousands of federal prisoners are released to halfway houses to start their life anew. ... More The BOP has struggled to keep up with capacity In May, Bureau of Prisons (BOP) distributed a memorandum stating that inmates who have earned 365 days of First Step Act (FSA) credits for prerelease custody are not eligible for additional prerelease time under the Second Chance Act. Further, it stated that those who had shorter sentences, under 4 years, and who had a home to stay in, could only get home confinement under the Second Chance Act. That limitation, 10% of the sentence imposed up to a maximum of 6 months, meant that many minimum and low security inmates would stay in institution correctional facilities for much longer. There are two components to the transition from the prison institution to the community. The first is a stop at a halfway house, which are operated by for-profit and non-profit entities that provide staffing to care for and monitor returning inmates. These inmates come from every BOP security level from minimum security campers to those coming from high security US Penitentiaries. The accommodations are modest with a bed, perhaps a television and some delivered meals for breakfast and dinner. Those in halfway houses are expected to have a job during the day. Inmates can earn passes to go home on weekends beginning on Fridays and returning on Sundays. The other component is home confinement, which allows an inmate to live in their own home, go to work and be subjected to monitoring by an ankle bracelet or some special cellphone. Home confinement is capped at 6 months depending on the sentence length but many in prison long to be in the community sooner to earn wages and be closer to their family members. This combination of halfway house and home confinement has been used for decades by the BOP but the FSA allowed inmates to earn an unlimited amount of prerelease custody through participation in programs and productive activities. This obviously benefits those with longer prison terms. However, limitations in capacity at these halfway houses, BOP funding and policy implementation has caused a backlog leaving inmates in expensive institutions much longer than necessary. Director William Marshall III issued an internal memorandum to all wardens in the BOP stating, 'To be clear, FSA [First Step Act] and SCA [Second Chance Act] authorities are cumulative and shall be applied in sequence to maximize prerelease custody, including home confinement (HC). Residential Reentry Center (RRC) bed availability/capacity shall not be a barrier to HC when an individual is statutorily eligible and appropriate for such placement.' This directive given in the memorandum represents a bold departure from earlier efforts by the BOP to restrict prerelease custody and it is the first time that the BOP has recognized the word 'shall' in the context of placing eligible inmates into halfway house and home confinement. Previously, the BOP has stated that any move to prerelease custody was based on availability of halfway house space. While no specifics were given in the memorandum as to expansion of halfway house capacity, the BOP must have a plan in place. In fact, when the BOP was still searching for a new Director and Deputy Director, it issued a memorandum stating that prerelease custody was going to be curtailed because of budgetary concerns. That memorandum was overturned as well. The BOP's Office of Public Affairs issued a press release concerning the changes and stated the following key points (bold print was emphasized by BOP): FSA Earned Time Credits and SCA eligibility will be treated as cumulative and stackable, allowing qualified individuals to serve meaningful portions of their sentences in home confinement when appropriate. Conditional Placement Dates—based on projected credit accrual and statutory timelines—will drive timely referrals, not bureaucratic inertia. Stable housing and community reintegration readiness, not past employment, will guide placement decisions. RRC bed capacity limitations will not be a barrier to Home Confinement when an individual is statutorily eligible and appropriate for such placement. Fully implementing the FSA depends on a place to either house or monitor inmates in the community. That capacity comes from halfway houses. The BOP faces significant challenges regarding the adequacy of its halfway house capacity. These centers play a crucial role in reintegrating inmates into society by providing structured environments that facilitate employment, counseling, and other reentry services. Despite the essential function of RRCs, the BOP has struggled to meet the growing demand for these facilities. Reports indicate that the BOP's RRC population has often exceeded contracted capacity, with some facilities operating at over 100% capacity. This overutilization has led to challenges in providing adequate services and accommodations. Moreover, the BOP's efforts to expand RRC capacity have been hindered by various factors, including zoning difficulties and delays in facility openings. The BOP has traditionally had a communication problem between the central office leadership who make the policy and the case managers who implement that policy on the ground. This is particularly true of the FSA. Case managers are responsible for overseeing the rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates, including developing individualized treatment plans, monitoring progress, and recommending changes to custody levels. They also facilitate communication between inmates and the courts, manage security concerns, and assist with transitioning inmates to community-based programs such as halfway houses. That transition and when to start the process for transitioning the inmate back into society falls on the shoulders of the case manager. With FSA and Second Chance Act, the date a person leaves prison is very much a calculation that everyone needs to understand. It has also been unequally applied across institutions where some case managers have been reluctant to implement policies for unknown reasons. That is not a problem that should be on the case manager, that is a leadership problem that has existed for years as 122 institutions essentially are self-contained prisons with different leaders, wardens, who have their own interpretation of policy. This inconsistency of implementing a law has been the achilles heel of the BOP since the FSA was passed. The key to success of this policy will be based on communication to the staff. It is the only way the FSA can live up to its purpose to return many to the community sooner so that they can complete their sentence in a way that respects the law, keeps communities safe and returns citizens who are ready to rejoin society with purpose. Advocacy groups have routinely cheered on the BOP based on memorandums that tout reform, but later look at results with disappointment. Measured results in cost savings and lower recidivism rates are the key to FSA success. I reached out to Rabbi Moshe Margaretten, President of Tzedek Association and one of the primary advocates for implementation of the FSA, who told me, 'I want to express my deepest admiration and gratitude to the BOP for today's outstanding announcement. Under the exceptional leadership of Director Marshall, this bold and thoughtful policy marks a watershed moment for meaningful second chances in our country.' Rabbi Margaretten said that he sees this as the BOP's clear commitment to fully implementing both the FSA and the Second Chance Act and that the new guidance was done with compassion, clarity, and courage. He also noted, 'This is nothing short of inspiring. By stacking eligibility under both statutes, focusing on stable housing instead of outdated employment requirements, and removing artificial barriers to home confinement, this guidance embraces the true intent of the law: helping men and women safely return home and rebuild their lives." The BOP has struggled to find quality leadership to change the culture and get better results, which explains why the agency reached outside for new leadership. It was Donald Trump who signed the FSA into law in December 2018. During the Biden administration, BOP leadership spoke of milestones implementing the law but fell far short of expectations by holding people in prison longer than the law allowed. They set themselves up for failure by not expanding resources, like halfway houses, to meet the increased demand. In the BOP's June 2024 report on the FSA it stated that there have been no cost savings associated with the implementation of the law, something that was a cornerstone to the law's passing. This same statement has been in all previous BOP reports on FSA. The BOP seems to acknowledge their problems now with Director Marshall in charge. The BOP's press release stated, 'This clarification reflects the Bureau's commitment to both the letter and the spirit of the First Step Act and Second Chance Act. By maximizing both authorities where appropriate, we are expanding opportunities for successful reentry while maintaining our commitment to public safety. As indicated previously, this directive is rooted in the principle of smart, fair criminal justice reform—reform that began when President Donald J. Trump disrupted entrenched political paralysis and signed the FSA into law, delivering the most significant overhaul to the federal justice system in a generation.' The memorandum is going to be well received by inmates and their families. However, the BOP has a history of slowly implementing programs that favor inmates but quickly adopting restrictions that keep them in prison longer. The Trump administration continues to be one that looks for results among those appointed to serve and it will be up to BOP leadership to deliver on this one as the directive is clear. It is the implementation of this directive that will be the next challenge.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Over 100 Panhandle coaches attend clinic highlighting safety for student athletes
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Students are wrapping up the school year this week, but coaches are already thinking about summer football workouts under the hot August sun. Over 100 coaches from across the Panhandle gathered on Wednesday in Bay County to learn more about safely managing and protecting their players during workouts, practices, and games. The Panhandle Area Educational Consortium, or the PAEC, organized the coaches' clinic to make coaches aware of potential tragedies and help prevent them. Governor Ron DeSantis signs two bills to help 'stand by man's best friend' 'We have coaches from those 10 districts and Bay County as well that have come together to hear speakers that are lawyers and doctors talk about the laws, the ways to care for kids, the things we need to do to ensure kids are safe,' PAEC Administrator of Risk Management Mickey Hudson said. Anyone can imagine, the heat in Florida is a major concern. 'At Mosley and all the schools and medical schools, we have what we call the weather machine, but there's a machine that's attached out there to one of the power poles right by the practice field. And it goes to an app on your phone. And we use this thing called the wet bulb thermometer that not just measures the outside, but the moisture, the wind conditions, a lot of different things that go out and then based and we get readings on that by the minute,' Mosley High School Head Football Coach Tommy Joe Whiddon said. The wet-bulb temperature measures how easily the body can cool itself through sweating. When the temperature is too hot, sweat cannot evaporate and cool itself down, which leads to heat illness. Concussions are also a serious concern. The key point is, those who have symptoms can't play. 'The law already helps them out because the word that you use that is most important is they have symptoms, and so they're removed from play. That's hard. They know that that's a hard line. There's no question about that,' Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic's Dr. Todd Hewitt said. Port St. Joe mourns the loss of star football player Last year, the Port St. Joe Tiger Sharks' star football player, Chance Gainer, died during a game. Chance's mother, Equila Gainer, spoke to coaches Wednesday to inspire them to do their part to prevent potential injuries. 'We're bringing awareness to what these kids could possibly be feeling. They've actually done the second chance, where EKGs will be mandatory in the school system. So I think now that people are more aware of what happened to my son, Chance, they're actually looking now, looking for signs, looking for little tales of what we can do or how we can fix the situation,' Equila said. The Second Chance Act, named after Chance Gainer, will be implemented in the 2026 school year. It will require all student-athletes in Florida to receive EKG screenings. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Florida bill requiring heart screenings for student athletes heads to governor's desk
The Brief Senate Bill 1070, aka the Second Chance Act, is headed to the governor's desk. It would require all student athletes to get an electrocardiogram or EKG/ECG before they can compete on school teams. TAMPA, Fla. - Pediatric cardiologists are hopeful that electrocardiograms will soon be required for student athletes, as a bill passed by Florida lawmakers heads to the governor's desk. The backstory There have been several student athletes that have collapsed on the field in recent years in the Tampa Bay region. Last year, Ansel Laureano collapsed from cardiac arrest at Leto High School in Hillsborough County, and a coach and deputy helped save him using an AED and CPR. Today, his mother is thankful her son bounced back, alive and well. "When Ansel was in the hospital, the doctor said to me, maybe he never awakes, or he can be like a vegetable after," said Bismeiry Lantigua Cruz, Ansel's mother. "That situation is something, I don't want nobody to go through this, because it's, it's a lot." Dig deeper A bill passed by the Florida Senate on Thursday, and now headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis, aims to help prevent that. The Second Chance Act or Senate Bill 1070, if signed, would require all student athletes to get an electrocardiogram or EKG/ECG before they can compete on school teams. It also applies to tryouts, conditioning and practice. Currently, it's not mandatory in all counties. "We basically take the stickers and put them on your chest and your arms and legs, and then hook these wires up to it that can detect the electrical activity of your heart," said Dr. Anjlee Patel, a pediatric cardiologist at AdventHealth Tampa. Dr. Patel said EKGs take about 10 to 15 seconds to show them things like heart blocks or murmurs. "We can also see lethal arrhythmias that patients might be predisposed to that sometimes don't show up as signs or symptoms of chest pain or dizziness or shortness of breath when they're playing sports. Sometimes the first sign is actually sudden cardiac arrest," said Patel. A screening would pick up on potentially life-saving information and get the student on track for treatment to keep playing safely. "I never want to see anything like that ever happen to my child or anybody else's for that matter," said Patel. In Ansel's case, his mom, Lantigua Cruz, said her son had no heart condition before his incident and hasn't been diagnosed with anything since then. She said it was a one-time incident, but she took him to a heart specialist for checkups. She believes a law with mandatory heart screenings can protect students, but she believes students should speak up and listen to their bodies if they are pushing too hard before cardiac arrest happens. "If you don't do the test, if you don't any test, you know it's like no way you can know that can happen to you," said Lantigua Cruz. The bill would have the Florida High School Athletic Association work with private and public entities to provide low-cost or free EKG screenings. FHSAA sent a statement to FOX 13 saying, "Cardiac screenings are already recommended, per the FHSAA. In addition, the FHSAA would support any legislation that improves the health and safety of our student-athletes." Dr. Patel said AdventHealth for Children offers EKG screening for students from ages 10 to 25 for $15 in Central and West Florida. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube The Source Information for this story was gathered by FOX 13's Briona Arradondo. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
