A new criminal justice reform bill, the First Step Act, which allows early release from prison, was intended to ease overcrowded prisons and give a second chance to non-violent prisoners. However, 59 homicide/aggravated assault convicts and 239 rapists and sex offenders have been released so far this year. The First Step law turns over the power to release prisoners to administrators at the Bureau of Prisons that can release whoever they want to. The majority who were released are violent criminals. In addition, an amendment to notify victims when violent criminals are released was voted down. All but 12 Republicans voted for this bill. -GEG