1. The first paragraph of a news article should answer the questions who, what, where and when. List the who, what, where and when of this news item. (NOTE: The remainder of a news article provides details on the why and/or how.)

2. a) What is the First Step Act?
b) What will the First Step Act allow judges to do?

3. Why do supporters of the First Step Act oppose mandatory minimum sentences?

4. What does the House bill direct the Bureau of Prisons to do?

5. What additional changes does the Senate bill make?

6. During his announcement, President Trump said, "Americans from across the political spectrum can unite around prison reform legislation that will reduce crime while giving our fellow citizens a chance at redemption, so if something happens and they make a mistake, they get a second chance at life.” He also said, "it's the right thing to do." Do you agree with this assertion? Explain your answer.
-Watch an excerpt from the President’s comments in the video under “Resources”
-Read an op-ed supporting the legislation: Time to pass the First Step Act

7. The House bill focuses on rehabilitating people once they’re already in prison by incentivizing them, with the possibility of earlier release, to partake in rehabilitation programs. During a White House summit on prison reform in March (before the House bill was passed in May) President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner said, “The single biggest thing we want to do is really define what the purpose of a prison is. Is the purpose to punish, is the purpose to warehouse, or is the purpose to rehabilitate?”
The purpose of prison is to punish a person who commits a crime. What do you think the purpose of prison should be? Should prisoners be encouraged/helped to be rehabilitated? Explain your answer.