Citizen Proposals

We believe that solutions to problems often come from those directly affected, and when they do, are often the most insightful and meaningful reforms. Citizen proposals available for review on this website should be considered 'drafts' and are not pending legislation - simply ideas to consider.

Legislative legal staff often work diligently for legal answers to our current injustices in the criminal justice system. These proposals and the ideas and language presented within, are posted to assist citizens and leaders alike as they work for sentencing reform at state and federal levels.

Note: November Coalition is interested in posting proposals that consider the non-violent person doing life without parole; plans that will use prisoners in communities that need rebuilding, giving them modern work skills that will translate to success upon release, and plans that give prisoners a wide range of vocational and educational training.

Proposal: The Crimson Rehabilitation Program; submitted by Jim Helms, Federal Prisoner, 1993 - Jim Helms wrote this proposal in 1993, and written today it might be renamed, "The Rebuild America Act". This proposal addresses the dilemmas of prisons, labor, and fair competition in an age of high unemployment. We hope lawmakers and citizens alike will study the prospects of a new conservation corps, and embrace the call for earned early release for federal prisoners.

Proposal: Incentive Pre-release Community Custody Program; submitted by Jim Helms, Federal Prisoner, 2001 - Jim Helms wrote this proposal to increase and enhance good-time eligibility in the Federal prison system. It presents a plan adaptable to current release plans now used by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Proposal: The Federal Sentencing Reform Act Of 2003; submitted by Theresa Squillacote and Eunice Emuchay, Federal Prisoners, May 6, 2003 - would provide federal prisoners a 'single shot' parole opportunity, and require mandatory rehabilitation programs as prerequisite to that opportunity.

Proposal: A Plan To Return Federal Parole; submitted by Glenn Early, Prisoner of the Drug War, November 2003 - would build unity and support within reform organizations with the stated goal of reinstating parole within the federal prison system.

Proposal: A BILL to revive the system of parole for federal prisoners; submitted by Glenn Early, Prisoner of the Drug War, January 2004 - adapted from the "Mink" bill (HR 5296, introduced in the 107th Congress; see right). The language has been modified to create 'retroactivity' and to apply to individuals serving 'mandatory minimums. Furthermore, with the use of the language which was found in the "Single Shot" proposal (see above) to amend and add to the United States Codes, this bill would affect 'drug law violators' and 'lifers.' It also reinstates the 'old system of earned good-time.'

Give U.S. Parole A Second Chance! - Drug War Prisoner Al Battone has submitted a detailed and sourced cost/benefit analysis of returning federal parole.

Congressional Bills

The following bills address the subject of early release, parole, or consider prisoner reentry concerns.

Just as citizen proposals are available, below are current and inactive legislative proposals to assist leaders and lawmakers in exploring concepts in legislative discussion and design today. Citizens are encouraged to open dialog with their leaders. Some leaders have excellent points that people can bring to the attention of their own members of Congress.

109th Congress, 1st Session: HR 1704: To reauthorize the grant program of the Department of Justice for reentry of offenders into the community, Introduced in the House by Rep. Rob Portman (D-OH), 4/19/05.

109th Congress, 1st Session: HR 3602: The Literacy, Education, and Rehabilitation Act (LERA). Introduced in the House by Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), 6/27/05. Special thanks go to Federal Prison Policy Project for getting this bill introduced.

109th Congress, 1st Session: HR 3072: To Revive The System Of Parole For Federal Prisoners, And For Other Purposes. Introduced in the House by Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL), 6/27/05

Act Now To Stop This Terrible Legislation! 109th Congress, 1st Session: HR 1528: Defending America's Most Vulnerable: Safe Access to Drug Treatment and Child Protection Act of 2005. Introduced in the House by Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI). To amend the Controlled Substances Act to protect vulnerable persons from drug trafficking, and for other purposes.

109th Congress, 1st Session: HR 1300: Civic Participation and Rehabilitation Act of 2005. Introduced in the House by Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) To ensure the Federal voting rights of persons who have been released from incarceration.

109th Congress, 1st Session: HR 256: To Amend Title 18, United States Code, To Provide An Alternate Release Date For Certain Nonviolent Offenders, And For Other Purposes. Introduced in the House by Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX).

109th Congress, 1st Session: HR 663: To Secure The Federal Voting Rights Of Certain Qualified Ex-Offenders Who Have Served Their Sentences. Introduced in the House by Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY).

Take note: The following bills have become void with the convening of the new 109th Congress in January 2005. As relevant new bills are introduced, we will post them above.

Past (108th) Congress, 2nd Session - S. 2923: Enhanced Second Chance Act of 2004: Community Safety Through Recidivism Prevention. Introduced in the Senate by Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE), 10/7/04

More (past) Congressional Bills

Past (108th) Congress, 2nd Session - S 2789: The Second Chance Act of 2004 - Introduced in the Senate by Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS), 9/10/04

Past (108th) Congress, 2nd Session - HR 5103: Justice in Sentencing Act of 2004 - Introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA); 9/15/04)

Past (108th) Congress, 2nd Session - H. R. 4676; (Introduced 6/23/04) - To reauthorize the grant program of the Department of Justice for reentry of offenders into the community, to establish a task force on Federal programs and activities relating to the reentry of offenders into the community, and for other purposes.

108th CONGRESS, 2nd Session - HR 4752, The Literacy, Education, and Rehabilitation Act, introduced June 25, 2004 by Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA). To amend title 18, United States Code, to award credit toward the service of a sentence to prisoners who participate in designated educational, vocational, treatment, assigned work, or other developmental programs, and for other purposes.

Past (108th) Congress, 2nd Session - HR 4036: To Revive the System of Parole for Federal Prisoners - Introduced March 25, 2004 by Rep Danny K. Davis (D-IL). With the introduction of HR 4036, and the formation of a new Congressional Caucus on Public Safety, Sentencing and Incarceration -- co-chaired by Representatives, John Conyers (D-MI), Danny Davis (D-IL), and Bobby Scott (D-VA) -- many are encouraged to organize support for dramatic changes in the federal prison system, and drug law enforcement.

Past (108th) Congress, 1st Session - HR 1433: Ex-Offenders Voting Rights Act of 2003 (Introduced in the House by Rep. Charles Rangel). To secure the Federal voting rights of certain qualified ex-offenders who have served their sentences.

Past (108th) Congress, 1st Session - HR 3575: The Federal Prison Bureau Nonviolent Offender Relief Act of 2003 - Introduced November 21, 2003 by Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX). This bill would offer sentencing relief to non-violent federal prisoners over the age of 45. Referred to the House Judiciary Committee as of December 6, 2003. For more on HR 3575, read Nonviolent Offender Relief Act introduced in House (Razor Wire, Winter 2003/Spring 2004). A comprehensive web site in support of HR 3575 is at: www.elliottstewart.com/hr3575/home.htm)

Past (108th) Congress, 1st Session - HR 1829: Federal Prison Industries Competition in Contracting Act - passed the House November 6, 2003 and was read in the Senate and bill referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. HR 1829's main thrust is to alter Federal Prison Industries contracting system to ultimately end unfair competition with private industry. The bill provides rehabilatative opportunities; prisoner work opportunities in the community, full range need assessment, educational and modern vocational training (Section 10). Section 16 directly quoted reads, "It is the sense of Congress that it is important to study the concept of implementing a good time release program for nonviolent criminals in the Federal Prison System." Support for HR 1829 included the US Chamber of Commerce, Furniture Manufacturing Associations, and AFL-CIO. For more on HR 1829, read The future of FPI, by Chuck Armsbury (Razor Wire, Winter 2003/Spring 2004)

Past (108th) Congress, 1st Session - H.R. 2166: A Bill to Provide Affordable Housing to Ex-offenders - A bipartisan bill that aims to increase public safety by helping former prisoners find affordable housing. The bill will provide a tax credit for private developers to build 100,000 units of single room occupancy housing. The bill also provides for a structured post-release environment with education, skills training, and other assistance for two years.

Past (107th) Congress - (Note! This bill has been reintroduced in the current Congress as HR 4036.) - HR 5296, To Revive the System of Parole for Federal Prisoners - the late Rep. Patsy Mink sponsored the bill August of 2002, inspired by the case of Chrissy Taylor, a federal drug war prisoner. Intended to restore parole to prisoners like Chrissy, before work on the bill began in earnest, the honorable representative from Hawaii passed away from complications from the chicken pox.