The Second Chance Act was comprehensive bipartisan legislation enacted on April 9, 2008. The stated objectives of the Act were:
- to reduce recidivism
- to rebuild ties between offenders and their families
- to support evidence-based practices
- to protect the public
- and to assist offenders in establishing a self-sustaining life.
The primary focus of the SCA was to provide federal funds and guidance to assist state, local and tribal authorities in improving reentry and protecting the community. Included in the legislation, however, was an important expansion of the contracting authority of the Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AOUSC) under 18 U.S.C. 3672. Prior to this expansion, the only services for which U.S. Probation could contract were substance use disorder and mental health treatment. The new authority allowed U.S. Probation to contract with any appropriate public or private agency to monitor and provide services to any offender in the community, including treatment, equipment, emergency housing, corrective and preventative guidance and training, and other rehabilitative services.