In bipartisan act, Senate passes criminal justice reform bill with overwhelming support

(RNN/AP) – The Senate passed a bipartisan prison reform bill on Tuesday night, a rare show of agreement in Washington intended to reduce the federal prison population.

The bill, the First Step Act, is also expected to pass the House and be signed into law by President Donald Trump.

The emphasis of the law is on reducing recidivism.

The law provisions “programs to help reduce the risk that prisoners will recidivate upon release from prison, and for other purposes” according to its text.

It also covers a broad range of prison reforms, including prohibiting the use of restraints on pregnant prisoners and amending the Controlled Substances Act to restrict enhanced sentencing for prior drug felonies. It also reduces the life sentence for some drug offenders with three convictions, or “three strikes,” to 25 years.

The changes would only apply to federal prisoners.

It passed the Senate overwhelmingly, in an 87-12 vote. 

A major victory for President Trump, he said on Twitter the law “will keep our communities safer, and provide hope and a second chance, to those who earn it.”  

Underscoring how support for the legislation crossed the political spectrum, the American Civil Liberties Union tweeted it while it was “by no means perfect,” it represented a “common sense” step forward in addressing the country’s “mass incarceration crisis.”