CNN Political Commentator and Reform Alliance CEO Van Jones listens as Louis L. Reed, National Organizer for #cut50, a criminal justice initiative Jones co-founded, speaks about best probation and parole reform. (Photo courtesy of Prisonists.org)

From left, State Rep. Brandon McGee, CNN commentator Van Jones and Gov. Ned Lamont listen to former federal inmate Louis Reid discuss what can be done to assist inmates in being successful when they are released during a forum Monday at Quinnipiac University. (Julia Bergman/The Day)

Louis L. Reed, #cut50 National Organizer, speaks to audience in Dallas, TX about the National Day of Empathy. Reed historically organized the largest day of criminal justice reform action in the United States.

Louis L. Reed, LADC, CAC, ICADC Criminal Justice Reform Strategist| JLUSA Fellow| Forbes Coach| Licensed Practitioner| Believer

Thousands of federal prisoners could be free if Congress passes the bill.

Louis Reed planned to kill himself last year after he was arrested for allegedly forging checks, then lost his job as Bridgeport’s prison reentry director, and then was rearrested on another round of check forgery charges.