releases: https://tomgraves.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399010
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://tomgraves.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399010 | Rep. Graves Supports Bipartisan Criminal Justice Reform Bill | 2018-12-20 | 2018 | 2018-12 | Republican | House | GA | Tom Graves | G000560 | tomgraves.house.gov | legacy | Contact: Garrett Hawkins 202-225-5211 Rep. Graves Supports Bipartisan Criminal Justice Reform Bill WASHINGTON, December 20, 2018- Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA-14) today voted for and the House passed by an overwhelming vote of 358 to 36 the First Step Act (S. 756), bipartisan legislation reforming the federal prison system. The bill now heads to President Trump's desk. The bill passed the Senate earlier this week by a vote of 87-12.First, I want to commend Rep. Doug Collins for leading the effort on prison reform in the House, said Rep. Graves. Today the work paid off! This legislation, which is similar to the successful criminal justice reforms Gov. Nathan Deal signed into law in Georgia, is a major victory for justice. Among its significant reforms, the bill prioritizes rehabilitation for non-violent, low-risk offenders. It gives judges more latitude in mandatory sentencing for low-level crimes. And it allows prisoners to start saving money for their expenses after they're released. The First Step Act will go a long way toward ending the revolving door in our criminal justice system. According to the Senate Judiciary Committee, here are some of the bill's highlights: Allows certain prisoners to earn time in pre-release custody such as a residential reentry center or home confinement through successful participation in recidivism-reduction programs Permits inmates to save money in an escrow account for pre-release expenses, such as housing Requires that prisoners are housed within 500 miles of family Prohibits handcuffing during child birth Reduces the mandatory minimum for some non-violent offenses from life imprisonment to 25 years for a third conviction and from 25 to 15 years for a second conviction Gives federal judges more discretion in the mandatory sentencing for some low-level crimes Changes sentencing guidelines so offenses involving crack and powder cocaine are treated equally ### Print version of this document | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |