The First Step Act is a United States federal legislation enacted by the 115 th American Congress with an intent of reforming the federal prison system and drastically minimizing cases of inmate recidivism. President Trump assented the act on 21 st 2018 as a move to end mass incarceration. The criminal justice reform act includes provisions that anticipate to reduce number of people in penitentiaries and rid the unnecessarily harsh prison sentences. The First Step Act shortens minimum terms for non-violent felonies, eases federal three strikes rule, and expands the drug safety value ( Jackson, 2018) . One of the most exciting reforms in the act is the placement of prisoners close to their families provided under section 401.
The First Step Act made a mandatory requirement for the BOP to situate the imprisoned individuals at a distance of no more than 500 miles from the inmate’s family with exceptions of bed space limits, security designation and healthcare needs. The provision is important in facilitating family communication through visits thereby lowering instances of recidivism. Undoubtedly, a close contact with family members leads to better post release outcomes and significantly reduced recidivism rates. According to Hairston (2002), close ties while in prison create a foundation for consistent positive relationships between the inmate and the family ultimately leading to parole success. Studies have consistently showed that inmates who are restricted from contacting their family are six times more likely end up being rearrested for a crime during the first year after release. A survey conducted on released prisoners showed that 12% of inmates who were not allowed close contact returned to prison while only 2% of the inmates allowed family access were rearrested ( Jackson, 2018) . The findings affirms the positive impact that is likely to be realized by the provision on placing prisoners close to families.
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The reform is also important as it will lead to satisfactory performance among inmates who are on parole. The family plays a critical role in cultivating prosocial relationships which ultimately trim cases of recidivism. The family is a central component in enabling ex-inmates transition from incarceration. Markedly, the social support and control provided by family members inhibit criminal activity. It is also true that inmates who are denied positive supportive relationships have a high likelihood of re-engaging in criminal behaviour. The reform will play a role in maintaining family ties and preventing probability of family breakdown. Close contact through family visits will help curb intergeneration offending. The reform will play a role in enabling the prisoner to maintain their roles as fathers or mothers thereby reminding the inmates that they are more than inmates.
Through family visits, the reform will also enable the inmate loved ones to understand what prisons are like for the incarcerated individuals. The First Step Act reform will play a significant role promoting the success of released prisoners as a result of maintenance of contact with supportive family members. Placement of inmates close to family members provides valuable support system during incarceration and after release. The reform will contribute to positive outcomes among released inmates such as stable housing and a high propensity of securing employment upon their return to the community ( McCarthy & Brunton-Smith, 2017) . The close contact with family members will facilitate reentry process through social support. Family contact creates a path for a consistent association during incarceration eventually lowering recidivism rates. A 2005 report by Re-entry policy committee affirmed that placement of inmates close to family members’ strengths connections, reduces strain of parental separation and minimizes recidivism rates. The First Step reform is important in allowing connections through letters and personal visits leading to strengthened family ties whose outcome is reduced burden of incarceration to the state and lowered recidivism. With family support, there will be fewer negative dynamics in intimate partner relationships ( Arditti & Few, 2006) .
Prisoners allowed to see their family members are also less likely to indulge in drug and substance abuse thereby minimizing crime rates and re-incarceration. The reform will also benefit the society due to reduced crime ( Tasca, Mulvey & Rodriguez, 2016) . A study by a Minnesota Corrections Department examining recidivism rates found that family visits reduced re-incarceration by 13% (mn.gov n.d). The reform will lead to decreased reconvictions consequently reducing the number of inmates in the United States federal prisons. Reduced recidivism will save the United States government and the tax payers billions of dollars that would have otherwise be used for the reconvicted prisoners’ upkeep. The reform will facilitate regular connection and communication between the prisoners, friends and families amounting to reduction in felony reconviction.
The reform is looking through the lens of promoting meaningful inmate-family contact, enhancement of rehabilitation and reduced recidivism. Additionally, the reform intends to establish closer ties with family, reduce mass incarcerations and change the prisoner’s behavior. The First Step Act primary goal is to provide a cost effective way of reducing recidivism and the tax payer’s burden of running the United States federal prisons. The reform looks to enhance prisoner’s well-being and mitigate against the likelihood of prisoners becoming institutionalized. The provision purposes to transform inmates to people who can be reintegrated into the society.
References
Arditti, J. A., & Few, A. L. (2006). Mothers' reentry into family life following incarceration. Criminal Justice Policy Review , 17 (1), 103-123.a
Hairston, C. F. (2002). Prisoners and families: Parenting issues during incarceration. In From Prison to Home: The Effects of Incarceration and Reentry on Children, Families and Communities Conference, Jan (pp. 30-31).
Jackson, J. (2018). How the FIRST STEP Act Would Restore Dignity to Incarcerated Women. Federal Sentencing Reporter , 31 (2), 116-118.
McCarthy, D., & Brunton-Smith, I. (2017). Prisoner-family ties during imprisonment: Reassessing resettlement outcomes and the role of visitation. Prison Service Journal , (233), 23-27.
mn.gov (n.d). Minnesota Department of Corrections, https://mn.gov/doc/ .
Tasca, M., Mulvey, P., & Rodriguez, N. (2016). Families coming together in prison: An examination of visitation encounters. Punishment & Society , 18 (4), 459-478.
