Washington, D.C., Nov. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Prison Fellowship, the nation’s largest Christian nonprofit serving prisoners, former prisoners, and their families, released the following statement after the White House and Senate leadership reached an agreement on language included in the FIRST STEP Act—Prison reform legislation that passed overwhelmingly in the U.S. House of Representatives in May and is now expected to be taken up in the Senate with new sentencing provisions.

“Prison Fellowship applauds the President and the members of the Senate and House for reaching this agreement and taking a substantial step forward for justice,” said James Ackerman, President and Chief Executive Office of Prison Fellowship.  “Now it is critical for Members of the Senate to act in a swift manner to pass this amended bill.”

“A vote against this bill is a vote against public safety, religious liberty, and our deeply held belief in redemption,” said Craig DeRoche, Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Public Policy. “This legislation will help people transform their behavior and lives while they are incarcerated and this will make our communities safer, lead to more success and less crime. Prison Fellowship believes this bill can pass with an overwhelming bipartisan vote and that the enactment of the FIRST STEP Act will pave the way for more values-driven reforms to come.”

The bipartisan prison reform legislation would improve programming in federal prisons that will better prepare men and women to become productive citizens through individualized risk assessments by expanding recidivism-reducing programs for all federal prisoners. The sentencing reforms added to the legislation would make minor adjustments to correct disproportional sentencing enhancements and increase judicial discretion in certain federal drug offense cases.

Prison Fellowship is the nation’s largest outreach to prisoners, former prisoners, and their families, and a leading advocate for criminal justice reform. With more than 40 years of experience helping restore men and women behind bars, Prison Fellowship advocates for federal and state criminal justice reforms that transform those responsible for crime, validate victims and encourage communities to play a role in creating a safe, redemptive, and just society.

Source: Prison Fellowship

John Ross

John Ross on Saturday, April 23, 2016 launched XPian News, a part of  Daybreak Communications, Inc. Ross is the facilitator of Aurora Christian Ministry Network (ACMN) and a member of the Fox Valley Christian Ministerial Alliance (FVCMA). He serves on the boards of Wayside Cross Ministries and the Kiwanis Club of Aurora. As a follower of Jesus, he has been for some 40 years a member of First Presbyterian Church - Aurora. He has an M.A. - Christian Leadership from Wheaton College Graduate School and undergraduate at Trinity International University.  editor@xpian.news