Contact:
Rabiah Burks, 202-822-6700
rburks@famm.org

FAMM JOINS NATIONAL PUSH
TO URGE CONGRESS TO FUND THE FIRST STEP ACT
A bipartisan group of criminal justice organizations sent a letter asking Congress to provide the $75 million that is authorized in the bill. 

WASHINGTON – Today, a bipartisan group of national criminal justice organizations sent a letter to the House and Senate Appropriation Committees urging them to appropriate $75 million to the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) for FY2020, as authorized by the First Step Act. The new law, which was signed by President Trump on December 21, 2018, authorizes Congress to appropriate $375 million for fiscal years 2019 through 2023.

“The First Step Act cannot be fully implemented if it is not fully funded,” said FAMM President Kevin Ring. “There are thousands of families and their incarcerated loved ones who are counting on the reforms promised by the bill. It’s important that the BOP has the funds needed to ensure the bill works as Congress intended.”

The funding for FY2020 will go toward putting into place the new risk and needs assessment system, as well as creating and expanding evidence-based programs to reduce recidivism. These programs will allow certain prisoners to earn and redeem time credits for earlier transfer to pre-release custody.

The joint letter was signed by FAMM, Justice Action Network, #cut50, the American Conservative Union Foundation, Drug Policy Alliance, FreedomWorks, the Sentencing Project, Prison Fellowship, Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce, R Street Institute, and Americans for Prosperity.

For nearly three decades, FAMM has united the voices of affected families, the formerly incarcerated, and a range of stakeholders and advocates to fight for a more fair and effective justice system. FAMM’s focus on ending a one-size-fits-all punishment structure has led to reforms to sentencing and prison policies in 6 states and is paving the way to programs that support rehabilitation for the 94% of all prisoners who will return to our neighborhoods one day.

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FAMM is a national nonpartisan advocacy organization that promotes fair and effective criminal justice policies that safeguard taxpayer dollars and keep our communities safe. Founded in 1991, FAMM is helping transform America’s criminal justice system by uniting the voices of impacted families and individuals and elevating the issues all across the country.

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