Crisis Stabilization and Community Reentry Act of 2020

Floor Speech

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Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague and good friend from Pennsylvania for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Crisis Stabilization and Community Reentry Act of 2020.

I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, as a former sheriff with over 40 years of experience in law enforcement, I understand the issues people face as they leave and transition from incarceration to a free society. Throughout my time in law enforcement, I saw many individuals--too many individuals--re-offend time and time again, often with the same offenses involving substance abuse and mental health issues.

Part of the problem back then was, when a prisoner was released from State prison, literally all we gave them was a blue bag for their valuables and a bus ticket home. And we wondered why they failed and returned to a life of crime--not much for rehabilitation.

So, when I became the sheriff of Jacksonville, I partnered with the Florida Secretary of Corrections and community groups to implement programs that provided continued treatment and services to individuals during and after they left prison because those exiting prison systems face numerous challenges as they go back to their communities, often with little or no support from friends or family.

As my colleague just mentioned, the Bureau of Justice Statistics calculates that one in seven individuals in State and Federal prisons, and one in four individuals in jails, experience serious psychological distress. Their battles with psychological distress and substance abuse do not stop when they exit prison. In fact, they are exacerbated upon their release. Indeed, during this transition phase, that support is often needed the most.

Today's bipartisan legislation would streamline mental health and medical services for these individuals, preventing a lapse of care between prison and society, and, instead, creating a continuum of care for those at greater risk of relapse.

The Crisis Stabilization and Community Reentry Act establishes a warm handoff of care between law enforcement, community-based groups, and mental health specialists. The partnership between law enforcement and community groups is critical as they both share a common goal to lower recidivism and ensure people can thrive and succeed when they return back to their communities.

By offering grants through the Department of Justice, States and communities would be able to provide medication-assisted treatment, counseling, and other transition services that are prioritized for those who need it most.

This bipartisan legislation is supported by the National Sheriffs' Association, the Major Cities Chiefs Association, the National Council for Behavioral Health, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and the Treatment Advocacy Center.

I am proud to support this initiative as a member of the congressional bipartisan Opioid Task Force, as a member of the Mental Health Caucus, and also as a proud member of the Law Enforcement Caucus, because as a sheriff, I have seen firsthand and know the success a bill like this can accomplish.

This bill is going to save lives, it is going to save money, and it is going to reduce crime. With a renewed focus on those people in greatest need, we can work together to ensure that pattern of recidivism can become a problem in the past rather than one that will be shouldered by future generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill, which, again, Mr. Speaker, is going to save lives, save dollars, and reduce recidivism.

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