# The SCORE Act of 2021: Helping People in County Jails Learn Trades

This bill creates a new federal grant program that gives money to county jails so they can teach inmates job skills in trades like welding, plumbing, and HVAC (heating and air conditioning). The goal is straightforward: if people learn a real trade while in jail, they're more likely to find jobs after they get out, which means they're less likely to end up back in jail. The federal government would set aside up to 3 percent of certain crime-fighting funds each year from 2022 through 2027 to pay for this program, with individual grants capped at $500,000.

To qualify for the money, a county needs to have at least 500 people in its jail (or multiple smaller counties can team up to reach that number). The bill gives priority to counties that already have some training facilities, can partner with local trade schools or community colleges to provide instructors, have land available for classrooms, and have support from local officials like sheriffs or judges. The federal government would cover up to 75 percent of the costs, meaning counties would need to chip in at least 25 percent of their own money.

The program only focuses on people convicted of non-violent crimes—specifically excluding anyone convicted of serious violent offenses like murder, rape, robbery, or crimes involving weapons or serious injury. Counties that receive grants have to report back on how many inmates participated, how many completed the training, how many got jobs afterward, and importantly, how many ended up back in jail. This tracking helps measure whether the program actually works at reducing repeat offenses. Essentially, this is an investment in giving people a practical alternative to crime by equipping them with marketable job skills before they leave the jail system.

SCORE Act of 2021

Nehls, Troy E.

Second Chance Opportunity for Re-Entry Education Act of 2021 or the SCORE Act of 2021 This bill directs the Bureau of Justice Assistance within the Department of Justice to establish a grant program&#8212;the Second Chance Opportunity for Re-Entry Education Grant Program&#8212;to promote reentry training programs and reduce recidivism to county jails for qualified nonviolent inmates.