On Friday, December 21, 2018, President Donald Trump signed the First Step Act, legislation that looks to create safer communities and a fairer federal justice system by helping prepare inmates to successfully rejoin society and enact commonsense sentencing reforms. Among the reforms, the First Step Act will promote prisoner participation in vocational training, educational coursework, or faith-based programs by allowing prisoners to earn time credits for pre-release custody, expand prison employment program opportunities, and eliminate the three-strike mandatory life sentencing provisions. Governor Matt Bevin joined President Trump and other elected officials at the White House for the signing. The governor issued a statement, saying the reform is significant for the state of Kentucky, and has now given individuals, along with their families and communities, the opportunity to believe there is hope.