Author: MDAG Staff Published: 12/8/2025 Maryland A.G. Press
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 8, 2025
Media Contact press@oag.state.md.us 410-576-7009
Attorney General Brown Joins Bipartisan Coalition Urging Congress to Pass the Workforce Reentry Act
Letter to Congress Requests Resources for Reentrants that Would Reduce Recidivism, Increase Public Safety, and Cut Taxpayer Costs
BALTIMORE, MD – Attorney General Anthony G. Brown joined a coalition of 36 attorneys general in urging Congress to pass into law H.R. 1633 – the Workforce Reentry Act – which will equip individuals released from prison with resources and skills to successfully reintegrate into society.
The legislation would increase public safety by reducing recidivism rates, while cutting taxpayer burdens related to incarceration costs and empowering paroled individuals to lead fulfilling lives. H.R. 1633 would make permanent grant funding opportunities for resources and programming, while ensuring efficient use of those funds by attaching new requirements to the grants.
According to federal data, the national recidivism rate is around 68 percent for individuals within three years of completion of incarceration. That number soars to 83 percent over nine years. Recidivism not only potentially endangers every person, family, and community when a new crime is committed, it also results in tremendous taxpayer costs associated with arrest, prosecution, and incarceration.
Recidivism, however, is not inevitable. Research shows recidivism is fueled by lack of opportunities and skills for those leaving prison – including employment opportunities. Currently, funding for programs that bolster those skills and opportunities is in flux and oftentimes not available at all. The Workforce Reentry Act would make permanent grant funding streams to stabilize resources related to successful reentry.
Communities that have embraced reentry programs have seen significant decreases in recidivism rates and prison populations.
Joining Attorney General Brown in sending the letter are the attorneys general of American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaiʻi, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Northern Mariana Island, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
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