A Democratic bill with 9 Democratic cosponsors · See all 9 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Second Look Act of 2026 allows incarcerated individuals to petition a Federal court to reduce their sentences if they have served at least 10 years. To qualify, the individual must not be a danger to the safety of any person or the community and must demonstrate readiness for reentry. The bill establishes specific factors for courts to consider, such as the defendant's age and rehabilitation. It also includes a rebuttable presumption for defendants aged 50 or older. Additionally, the Act provides a process for multiple applications and requires annual reporting on sentence reductions.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +8
Does this shorten or soften prison sentences?
The bill establishes a mechanism for incarcerated individuals with sentences over 10 years to petition for sentence reductions.
- Scored +7
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
The bill creates a rebuttable presumption in favor of release for defendants aged 50 or older.
- Scored +5
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill provides for court-appointed counsel at no cost to indigent defendants during the application process.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Sentence Reduction Opportunities: Incarcerated persons with sentences longer than 10 years may have their terms reduced if they meet specific criteria regarding safety and reentry readiness (Section 3, subsection a).
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Support for Older Inmates: There is a rebuttable presumption that defendants aged 50 or older should be released when they file an application for a sentence reduction (Section 3, subsection c, paragraph 2).
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Legal Assistance for Indigent Defendants: Individuals unable to afford counsel are entitled to have an attorney appointed at no cost to represent them during the application and proceedings (Section 3, subsection e, paragraph 3, clause iv).
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Consideration of Personal Circumstances: Courts are directed to consider various personal factors such as the defendant's age, maturity, rehabilitation, family circumstances, and potential benefits of family reunification (Section 3, subsection c, paragraph 1).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Requirement of Supervised Release: Any defendant whose sentence is reduced must still serve a term of supervised release, which may include the conditions from their original sentence (Section 3, subsection b, paragraph 1).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill creates a rebuttable presumption in favor of release for defendants aged 50 or older. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill provides for court-appointed counsel at no cost to indigent defendants during the application process. Would women be better off under this? — The bill addresses the high incarceration rates of women, many of whom are primary caretakers for children.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this shorten or soften prison sentences? — The bill establishes a mechanism for incarcerated individuals with sentences over 10 years to petition for sentence reductions. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill requires annual reporting on the racial demographics of those applying for and receiving sentence reductions. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill encourages sentence reductions by considering the potential benefits of family reunification for children and family members.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill notes that reducing the incarceration of aging inmates helps manage the Bureau of Prisons population and reduces costs.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates annual reports to Congress on the number of sentence reduction applications, grants, and denials.
- 9/1/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/28/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 8 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
4 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Steve CohenDemocrat · Tennessee
Henry JohnsonDemocrat · Georgia
Jonathan JacksonDemocrat · Illinois
LaMonica McIverDemocrat · New Jersey
Lateefah SimonDemocrat · California
Rashida TlaibDemocrat · Michigan
Shri ThanedarDemocrat · Michigan
Nydia VelázquezDemocrat · New York
Bonnie Watson ColemanDemocrat · New Jersey