H.R.5070: A Just Society: The Mercy In Re-entry Act
Overview
The Mercy In Re-entry Act (H.R. 5070) would ensure that public benefits are not denied to individuals who have exited the criminal justice system. Since the passage of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act in 1996, ex-convicts have been subject to a lifetime ban from most public benefits, ever for offenses as small as possessing marijuana.
Talking Points
- Though more than 40 states have modified their laws to allow individuals with low-level drug offenses full or partial access to programs such as TANF and SNAP, tens of thousands of Americans are denied access to basic services.
- The National assembly supports The Mercy In Reentry Act because the bill would go a long way in not only reducing the number of Americans reincarcerated but providing the tools for ex-convicts to reintegrate into society and contribute to their communities.