Second Look Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]
Introduced
Summary
Creates a statutory second‑look review for certain federal prisoners. It would let eligible people ask a court to reduce their prison term based on age, risk, rehabilitation, and public safety.
Show full summary
- People in prison and families: Individuals who have served at least 10 years could file for a sentence reduction. Applicants age 50 or older would face a rebuttable presumption in favor of release.
- Courts and prosecutors: Judges would consider existing 18 U.S.C. 3553(a) factors plus specific items like age at offense, program completion, institutional conduct, medical or psychological evaluations, and victim or family input. Any reduction would carry mandatory supervised release that matches the original term or up to the maximum allowed under current law.
- Process, oversight, and victims: The Bureau of Prisons and Department of Justice would have notice and processing duties and must provide counsel at no cost for filings. The United States Sentencing Commission would publish annual reports on petitions, outcomes, demographics, and average reductions, and victim notification rules would apply.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Annual sentence‑reduction reporting
If enacted, the United States Sentencing Commission would send a report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees within 1 year and every year after. Each report would count people who applied for sentence reductions and those granted or denied, and show releases, average reductions, race and gender, and locations by Federal circuit and State. The reports must also give counts for applicants and grantees age 50 or older. The Attorney General would have to provide information and help the Commission get the data.
New second-look for long sentences
If enacted, this bill would let certain federal prisoners ask a court to reduce a prison term. You could file only if your imposed sentence was more than 10 years and you have served at least 10 years. The Bureau of Prisons would have to give written notice 30 days before your 10th year, and you must file a motion in the district that imposed the sentence. Courts would consider public-safety factors, 18 U.S.C. 3553(a) factors, and many items like age at offense and filing, rehabilitation, medical reports, victim input, and BOP and U.S. Attorney information. The bill would set waiting times for repeat filings, create a rebuttable presumption of release if you are 50 or older at filing, require supervised release under 18 U.S.C. 3583 if the sentence is reduced, and allow appointed counsel for indigent applicants. The bill would also amend 18 U.S.C. 3582(c) to explicitly let courts reduce sentences under this new second-look rule.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]
CA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/28/2026
Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/28/2026
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 4/28/2026
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 4/28/2026
Jackson (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 4/28/2026
Simon
CA • D
Sponsored 4/28/2026
Cohen
TN • D
Sponsored 4/28/2026
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 4/28/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov