Second Look Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill lets people in federal prison ask a judge to shorten their sentence after serving at least 10 years. To qualify, the person must show they are not dangerous and are ready to return to society. The rule applies to people already in prison as well as those sentenced in the future.
• Judges would weigh several factors including the person's age, behavior in prison, completion of educational or job training programs, and statements from crime victims or their families. If a person cannot afford a lawyer, the government must provide one at no cost.
• People aged 50 or older would receive a special legal presumption that they should be released, unless the government can prove otherwise. Research cited in the bill shows older individuals are much less likely to reoffend and cost far more to keep incarcerated.
• If a judge denies the request, the person can try again: a second application after 5 years, a third after 2 more years, and a final application once they turn 50 and have used up all other options. This gives people multiple chances to show they have changed.
• The bill responds to the scale of long-term incarceration in the U.S. federal system. Nearly 45 percent of the federal prison population is locked up for drug trafficking, and one out of every seven incarcerated people nationwide is serving a life or virtual life sentence of 50 years or more.
• The U.S. Sentencing Commission would be required to report annually on the outcomes of these petitions, including data broken down by race, gender, and location, to track whether the process is being applied fairly.

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