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Bill that would give former inmates a second chance could become a law

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A stalled bill that would give former inmates a second chance could be back on track to becoming law.

The bill would shorten mandatory minimum sentences and allow judges to have more say when punishing nonviolent offenders.

The vast majority of inmates will be released at some point.

Kristie Puckett Williams, who has been working on criminal justice reform for years, said she remembers how difficult it was for her when she got out of prison.

"It was very difficult to find a place (to live), so either I had to find a place in someone's else's name, kind of like be untruthful, or I had to live with family and friends,” she said.

Williams said she is thankful that President Donald Trump and Congress put reform on the national agenda Wednesday.

However, that would only be for federal inmates.

Puckett has been working much closer to home with the North Carolina re-entry council.

Last week, they introduced a long list of proposals to make it easier for former inmates to succeed on the outside.

Their first suggestion is a public education campaign.

"We have to reframe that narrative,” Williams said. “First, it starts by humanizing people who have been incarcerated."

They are also hoping for more education, vocational training for inmates, increasing the use of work-release programs and helping inmates become entrepreneurs through that training.

"So, having those same skills into a business that is legal and legitimate, I think is something that could be great,” Williams said.

The City Council will meet in January to finalize its recommendations. At that point ,it would be up to the governor and Legislature to decide whether to enact them.

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