CORRECTIONS Act
Latest action. Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: continuing resolutionA stopgap law funding the government at existing levels when the annual appropriations bills are not done by October 1.Read the full definition (opens a new tab) S6646-6655)
Corrections Oversight, Recidivism Reduction, and Eliminating Costs for Taxpayers In Our National System Act of 2017 or the CORRECTIONS Act
This bill directs the Department of Justice (DOJ) to review existing recidivism reduction programs and productive activities (e.g., a prison work program) in federal correctional facilities.
It amends the federal criminal code to:
require the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to expand recidivism reduction programs and productive activities to all eligible prisoners;
allow an additional period of prerelease custody for prisoners who earn time credits for successfully completing such programs;
require DOJ to develop the Post-Sentencing Risk and Needs Assessment System;
require presentence investigation reports to include certain information such as substance abuse history, military service, and veteran status; and
permit a court to reduce a life prison term imposed on a defendant convicted as an adult for an offense committed as a juvenile.
The Administrative Office of the United States Courts must establish a supervised release pilot program to reduce recidivism and improve substance abuse recovery.
DOJ must evaluate reentry best practices and create reentry demonstration projects in judicial districts.
The bill amends the Second Chance Act of 2007 to make permanent and modify eligibility for an elderly offender early release pilot program.
Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Correctional Officer Self-Protection Act of 2017
The bill requires the BOP to allow a federal correctional officer to: (1) securely store firearms on BOP premises outside the security perimeter of the institution or in a vehicle lockbox, and (2) carry a concealed firearm on BOP premises outside the security perimeter of the institution.
National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2017
The bill establishes the National Criminal Justice Commission.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in Senate" stage on October 19, 2017. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
4 steps remain before this bill could become law.
The record's latest action, on October 19, 2017: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6646-6655)
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the Senate
- Passage by the House
- The President's signature. If the President vetoes it, two-thirds of both chambers must vote to override.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 115th Congress (2017-18), 442 of the 11,421 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 3.9 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one is not there yet: 4 steps are still outstanding, listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced it on October 19, 2017, and 2 members have since signed on as cosponsors.
They come from both major parties: 1 Democrat, 1 Republican.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on October 19, 2017, 3248 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 3248 days ago, on October 19, 2017.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 115th Congress has not finished by January 3, 2019 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- SenateIntroduced, no floor vote yet
- HouseAwaits Senate passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers