Justice and Legal
The Second Look Act is a federal legislative proposal aimed at reforming long-term incarceration by giving people in prison a chance to have their sentences reconsidered after they have served a significant amount of time. First introduced by Senator Cory Booker and Representative Karen Bass, the Act addresses the fact that many individuals are serving extremely long sentences—often from the height of the “tough-on-crime” era—without any opportunity for review, even if they’ve changed or rehabilitated themselves.
Under the Second Look Act, anyone who has served 10 years or more of a federal prison sentence would be eligible to petition the court that imposed their sentence to reevaluate it. This does not guarantee release, but it does require a judge to hold a hearing to determine whether the person’s sentence should be reduced, modified, or left in place. During this hearing, the judge considers multiple factors: the person’s rehabilitation, behavior while incarcerated, age at the time of the offense, current age, risk to public safety, and any additional evidence of change or maturity.
Importantly, individuals who file for a second look would have the right to legal counsel during this process. Victims and prosecutors would also be notified and have the opportunity to be heard, ensuring that all perspectives are included in the judge’s decision. However, the judge ultimately has the discretion to make an independent determination, unlike clemency or parole, which require executive or board-level approval.
The purpose of the Second Look Act is to correct injustices of over-sentencing and to support the idea that people can change. Many individuals who have served 20, 30, or even 40 years pose little to no risk to society but remain imprisoned under outdated sentencing policies. Research consistently shows that those who have been incarcerated for decades and are released in later life have very low rates of recidivism.
This Act also aligns with the goals of reducing mass incarceration, lowering costs to taxpayers, and promoting racial and social justice. It is especially important for people sentenced at a young age or under mandatory minimums who were never given the chance to prove they’ve changed. The Second Look Act also supports broader reform efforts like the First Step Act, but goes further by restoring judicial discretion and recognizing human development over time.
Although the Second Look Act has not yet been passed into federal law, it has been reintroduced several times with growing bipartisan interest. In the meantime, several states—such as Illinois, Maryland, and Connecticut—have introduced their own “second look” sentencing reforms or pilot programs, showing the national momentum behind the idea.
The Urban Law School and similar institutions can support the Second Look Act by raising awareness, educating families, training legal advocates, and lobbying lawmakers. Every season is the right time to push for justice, dignity, and second chances.
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