Texas Representatives Wesley Hunt (R) and Sheila Jackson Lee (D) introduced the bipartisan Safer Supervision Act.
“I am extremely proud to co-lead the Safer Supervision Act, which is a bipartisan effort that has the broad support of many law enforcement organizations across the country,” said Rep. Hunt.
The legislation is designed to help those who were formerly incarcerated reintegrate themselves into society.
“This pro-rehabilitation legislation better allocates resources for reintegration into society, it helps to remove the permanent scarlet letter of incarceration, and it creates positive incentives that encourage true rehabilitation.”
The Texas lawmaker celebrated the law and the bipartisan effort that helped them come to pass.
“The Safer Supervision Act is a win for law enforcement, the judicial system, and those who have served their time and reformed. I am proud to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who support this necessary step to reduce recidivism and promote rehabilitation,” said Rep. Hunt.
Rep. Jackson Lee claimed that the bill would help those who received overly harsh sentences.
"In a time when we are still looking for ways to rectify decades of federal mandatory minimums that resulted in excessively punitive and disproportionate prison sentences, I am pleased to join my fellow sponsors of the Safer Supervision Act in making critical and necessary steps forward in reshaping and reforming our criminal justice system to work in a more fair and just manner,” said Rep. Jackson Lee.
“By expanding and shifting strategies to advance public safety, the Safer Supervision Act helps reinforce the importance of common-sense discretion and individualized assessments for those transitioning out of the criminal justice system with an eye towards what works best for their successful rehabilitation," said Rep. Jackson Lee.
The Safer Supervision Act imposes supervision based on individual facts. The bill would require courts to conduct an individualized assessment of the appropriateness of supervision and to state its reasons on the record.
Furthermore, it creates positive incentives that will encourage rehabilitation and good conduct. This bill would create a rebuttable presumption in favor of early termination when the individual establishes that they have served 50 percent of their term (or 2/3 for violent offenses), have shown good conduct and compliance, and when they have shown that termination would not jeopardize public safety.
This presumption would further ensure that limited supervision resources are being directed to the cases that warrant it, while also creating strong positive incentives for individuals to take the steps needed to rehabilitate and reintegrate.
Lastly, it provides courts with discretion to determine how to assess minor controlled substance possession violations. However, the bill would create a narrow carveout so that courts have the discretion to decide whether re-imprisonment or treatment and rehabilitation is the best approach for minor misdemeanor possession offenses that do not involve intent to distribute.
