Second Chance Act (2009)

Second Chance Act (2009)

Update: H.R. 2065, The Second Chance for Ex-Offenders Act of 2011

Update: H.R. 1529, The Second Chance for Ex-Offenders Act of 2009

On March 16, 2009, Congressman Charles B. Rangel sponsored and introduced The Second Chance for Ex-Offenders Act of 2009 which would permit expungement of records of certain nonviolent criminal offenses. Second Chance for Ex-Offenders Act of 2009 - It amends the federal criminal code to allow an individual to file a petition for expungement of a record of conviction for a nonviolent criminal offense if such individual has:

(1) never been convicted of a violent offense and has never been convicted of a nonviolent offense other than the one for which expungement is sought;

(2) fulfilled all requirements of the sentence of the court in which conviction was obtained;

(3) remained free from dependency on or abuse of alcohol or a controlled substance for a minimum of one year and has been rehabilitated, to the court's satisfaction, if so required by the terms of supervised release;

(4) obtained a high school diploma or completed a high school equivalency program ; and

(5) completed at least one year of community service.

Status of the Legislation. Latest Major Action: As of 11 July 2011 (2011-07-11): Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.'

Update: In 2008, there were two bills entitled "The Second Chance Act (SCA)" (both are mentioned below). The Second Chance Act by Congressman Davis was passed and signed into law by President Bush - who had requested such legislation as early as 2004.

Due to a lack of organization of supporters at a grassroots level, the SCA by Congressman Rangel failed to gather sufficient Members to get out of committee. Congressman Rangel office staffers have indicated intent to re-introduce the bill in the 111th Congress.

The Second Chance for Ex-Offenders Act of 2007 (H.R. 623), titled "To permit expungement of records of certain nonviolent criminal offenses" is a bill submitted to the United States House of Representatives by Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY) to amend the federal criminal code to allow an individual to file a petition for expungement of a record of conviction for certain nonviolent criminal offenses. The resolution was introduced on January 22, 2007.