When a bipartisan group of Senators unveiled legislation to overhaul the federal government's sentencing guidelines, they credited U.S. Sen. Cory Booker with leading the effort to bring Republicans and Democrats together on the issue.

Criminal justice reform has been at the top of Booker's agenda since he left Newark to join the Senate in 2013. And now, he returns to the city, where he served as mayor for seven years and rose to national prominence, to join President Obama at a series of events to highlight the federal government's increased focus on recidivism.

Obama, Booker and current Newark Mayor Ras Baraka will visit Integrity House, a halfway house and drug-treatment center in the city's downtown, before they participate in a roundtable discussion at Rutgers University's Newark campus.

Among the President's priorities is exploring how the federal government can help former inmates break the cycle of recidivism, and successfully re-enter society.

In an interview with WNYC's Jami Floyd, Sen. Booker said the key is providing inmates with the opportunities to succeed once they've served their time.

"Our criminal justice system can't be just about punishment and retribution," Booker said. "It has to be about our best values. We are and always have been a nation of second chances and I hope we always will."