Bobby remains committed to comprehensive sentencing reform, a total elimination of mandatory minimums, and implementing evidence-based prevention and intervention programs and strategies.
Pursue comprehensive sentencing reform, including eliminating mandatory minimum sentences and implementing evidence-based prevention and intervention programs and strategies.
Occurrences
Evidence
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Congress.gov lists Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott as an original cosponsor of H.R.3552, the Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2025. Latest action remains referral to House Judiciary on 2025-05-21.
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GovInfo records H.R.3552 as introduced by Rep. Carol Miller with Robert C. "Bobby" Scott among the original cosponsors; the bill would reauthorize the Second Chance Act of 2007.
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Public Law 119-73, the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act, became law on 2026-01-23 and created post-conviction relief mechanisms for certain human trafficking survivors.
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The U.S. Sentencing Commission states that the First Step Act includes requirements for DOJ and BOP related to risk and needs assessment, evidence-based recidivism reduction programs, productive activities, and time credits.
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The House Clerk records Roll Call 215 on the FIRST STEP Act as passed, 360-59, and lists Scott (VA), Democratic, Virginia, voting Yea.
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Congress.gov summarizes Public Law 115-391 as reducing and restricting certain enhanced mandatory minimum drug terms, broadening safety-valve eligibility, making the Fair Sentencing Act retroactive, and authorizing recidivism-reduction programs.
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Congress.gov lists Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott as sponsor of H.R.4261, the SAFE Justice Act. The CRS summary says it would expand the safety valve, expand early-release eligibility, reduce mandatory minimum sentences for certain drug offenses, and establish a post-sentencing risk and needs assessment system.
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Congress.gov summarizes H.R.2944 as limiting drug-offense mandatory minimums to leaders, organizers, or employees of drug trafficking organizations; reducing certain mandatory minimum exposure; applying the Fair Sentencing Act retroactively; and creating risk and needs assessment and evidence-based programming provisions.
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BJA's FY 2026 notice says the Second Chance Act opportunity supports education and employment programs for adults and youth leaving prison and jail, with a goal of improving job readiness, employment, retention, and reducing recidivism; it lists approximately $20,000,000 in expected funding and an August 17, 2026 NOFO release date.
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The introduced House resolution lists Mr. Scott of Virginia among the members submitting it, and states that the First Step Act increased opportunities for people in federal prisons to participate in recidivism-reduction programs while Second Chance Act programs have provided reentry services to more than 442,000 people.
Assessments
Scott materially pursued the promise through sponsorship of SAFE Justice legislation, support for First Step Act sentencing and recidivism provisions, and current-term support for Second Chance Act reauthorization and reentry programming. Some evidence-based intervention and reentry-program elements have been implemented, and the First Step Act reduced or restricted some mandatory minimum effects. However, Congress has not enacted comprehensive sentencing reform eliminating mandatory minimum sentences, so the full promised outcome was not delivered.
Scott materially pursued the promise through sponsorship or cosponsorship of sentencing reform and reentry legislation, including SAFE Justice Act proposals and Second Chance Act reauthorization support. A major federal reform, the First Step Act, was enacted while he was in office and he voted for the House package; it reduced or restricted some mandatory minimum penalties, expanded safety-valve eligibility, made Fair Sentencing Act relief retroactive, and created evidence-based recidivism programming. However, the core promise included comprehensive sentencing reform and elimination of mandatory minimum sentences, which has not been delivered. The enacted reforms and Scott's efforts support partial credit, not full delivery.