The St. Louis Post-Dispatch published an article about the First Step Act that went into effect end of July 2019. Within hours, 3,100 inmates qualified for release from long federal prison sentences that at the time of sentencing were imposed as a punitive measure. The First Step Act was enacted to try a more constructive approach to rehabilitation and justice reform. This new act changed the way justice is served by allowing judges to no longer abide by the “three strikes” rule of imposing life sentences when previously incarcerated felons commit a third crime, as well as nonviolent drug offenders no longer facing harsh minimum-sentencing rules. The new focus of the act is reducing recidivism and rewarding prisoners who participate in anti-recidivism programs by cutting their prison terms.
Focusing on recidivism programs and allowing people in prison to have a chance to better themselves will improve their rehabilitation. The next step for the inmates is to focus on working through the programs and changing their behavior. They will be monitored with the hopes of reducing their prison sentences and proving punishment is not the answer to lowering recidivism. The bill has reverted the old ways to new ones that focus on rehabilitation and not punitive ways, as this is ineffective in reducing recidivism.
TRACKtech, LLC was created to reduce recidivism through rehabilitating inmates once they are released from prison. The TRACKphone platform is designed to provide program members with rehabilitative and life resources, as well as allow supervisors to monitor them with biometric identification and remote check-ins. TRACKtech works to provide program members with resources they need to become a functioning member of society, in the hopes of reducing recidivism and keeping them out of prison.