The Second Look Act of 2026 establishes a federal sentence review mechanism to address what Congress finds is the United States' disproportionately high incarceration rate—19% of the world's prisoners despite representing less than 5% of the global population. The law allows federal courts to reduce sentences for inmates who have served at least 10 years on sentences longer than 10 years, if they pose no danger to public safety and demonstrate readiness for reentry, with prisoners aged 50 or older presumed eligible for consideration. Eligible inmates may apply multiple times, with required gaps of five years between the initial and second applications and two years between subsequent applications, and the Bureau of Prisons must actively notify inmates of their eligibility. The legislation requires annual reporting to Congress on applicant demographics and outcomes, helping lawmakers track the program's impact on the federal prison population.
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