Promoting Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Formerly Incarcerated Individuals

Impact dates

1. Apr 29, 2017

   Annual Reentry Council meeting

2. Aug 7, 2016

   Federal strategic plan to reduce recidivism and support reentry

Key directives

• Establish Federal Interagency Reentry Council co-chaired by Attorney General and Domestic Policy Council Director
• Develop and present Federal strategic plan within 100 days
• Agencies review employment suitability procedures for criminal record evaluation compliance
• Agencies with licensing authority revise procedures to prohibit presumptive denial based on criminal record without individualized assessment
• Attorney General designate full-time Executive Director
• Co-Chairs convene at least one meeting per year
• Engage with governmental and nongovernmental stakeholders including formerly incarcerated individuals and victims

Who is ordered

• Attorney General · Department of Justice
• Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council · Executive Office of the President
• Secretary of the Treasury · Department of the Treasury
• Secretary of the Interior · Department of the Interior
• Secretary of Agriculture · Department of Agriculture
• Secretary of Commerce · Department of Commerce
• Secretary of Labor · Department of Labor
• Secretary of Health and Human Services · Department of Health and Human Services
• Secretary of Housing and Urban Development · Department of Housing and Urban Development
• Secretary of Transportation · Department of Transportation
• Secretary of Energy · Department of Energy
• Secretary of Education · Department of Education
• Secretary of Veterans Affairs · Department of Veterans Affairs
• Secretary of Homeland Security · Department of Homeland Security
• Administrator of the Small Business Administration · Small Business Administration
• Director of the Office of Management and Budget · Office of Management and Budget
• Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers · Council of Economic Advisers
• Director of National Drug Control Policy · Office of National Drug Control Policy
• Director of the Office of Personnel Management · Office of Personnel Management
• Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service · Corporation for National and Community Service

Timeline

Risks & tensions

• Implementation 'subject to availability of appropriations' may limit enforcement
• Independent agencies only 'encouraged' to comply with employment barriers section, not mandated
• Licensing revisions contingent on agencies having statutory authority and discretion to define criteria—scope unclear
• No private right of action created, limiting accountability mechanisms