Introduction of the Literacy, Education and Rehabilitation Act (LERA)

INTRODUCTION OF THE LITERACY, EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION ACT (LERA) -- (Extensions of Remarks - June 25, 2004)

SPEECH OF
HON. ROBERT C. SCOTT
OF VIRGINIA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 2004

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the Literacy, Education and Rehabilitation Act (LERA). The purpose of LERA is to reduce recidivism and the victimization and costs, fiscal and social, associated with such recidivism. Studies have shown that inmate participation in education, vocational and job training, prison work skills development, drug abuse, mental health and other treatment programs, all reduce recidivism, significantly.

The Federal prison population has increased more than 7-fold over the past 20 years. In 1984, the population was about 25,000 prisoners. Today, there are more than 175,000 prisoners, and the population is growing. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), the primary reasons for this tremendous growth has been longer sentences resulting from the 1984 Sentencing Reform Act and mandatory minimum sentences. The Sentencing Reform Act established determinate sentencing, abolished parole, and dramatically reduced good time credits. Other sentencing policy by Congressional or administrative action has increasingly limited the discretion of judges and prison officials to impact sentence lengths or confinement options.

During the same period, the annual number of prisoners returning to communities has also increased several fold.
Currently, about 40,000 prisoners leave Federal prisons each year. The question is whether they leave prison better prepared to lead law-abiding lives, or in a worse position to do so. The addition of a felony record and a Federal prison stay is not, in and of itself, likely to add to a person's job or social development prospects.

Unfortunately, the elimination of incentives such as parole, good time credits and funding for college courses, means that fewer inmates participate in and excel in literacy, education, treatment and other development programs. LERA provides incentives and recognitions for achievement by giving the BOP Director the discretion to grant up to 60 sentence credit days per year to an inmate for successful participation in literacy, education, work training, treatment and other development programs. LERA will not only prevent crime victimizations, but also save taxpayers money.
Many sentences are excessively long because mandatory sentencing policies do not allow sentencing judges the discretion to distinguish between hardened criminals and those amenable to rehabilitation and preparation for successful re-entry. LERA allows offenders to distinguish themselves.