White House Proclaims April 2024 Second Chance Month
Second look laws reevaluate a person's sentence after a sufficient period of time served in prison and determine if sentence is still necessary
Too many people are in prison for too long with virtually no way to get a second chance. Sentencing laws must be reformed to recognize people's capacity to change and their readiness to come home and successfully reintegrate back into their communities. We need as many methods as possible to give people an opportunity to be considered for a second chance, reunite families, and heal communities.
Second Chance Month, observed in the United States during April since 2017, is a nationwide effort to raise awareness of the collateral consequences of a criminal conviction, and unlock second-chance opportunities for people who have completed their sentences to become contributing citizens. President Joe Biden released a White House Proclamation about Second Chance Month 2024.
America was founded on the promise of new beginnings. During Second Chance Month, we recommit to building a criminal justice system that lives up to those ideals so that people returning to their communities from jail or prison have a fair shot that the American Dream.
Every year, more than 650,000 people are released from State and Federal prisons, some leaving with nothing more than a few dollars and a bus ticket to start their new lives. In total, over 70 million Americans have a criminal history record, which can make it hard to secure a steady job, safe housing, affordable health care, or a good education — all important things to have when trying to build a good life. Studies show that when these needs are met, we do not just empower formerly incarcerated people — we prevent crime and make our communities safer.
“Research shows that when people who have served their time hit insurmountable barriers to finding employment, housing, food, and healthcare, they are likely to reoffend to survive,” said Kate Trammell,Vice President of Legal and Advocacy for Prison Fellowship, the nation’s largest Christian nonprofit serving prisoners, former prisoners, and their families. “We support fair legislation that provides formerly incarcerated individuals who have served their sentences with the opportunity to rebuild their lives, strengthen family bonds, and contribute to society.”
Proclamation from the White House on Second Chance Month --->>> A Proclamation on Second Chance Month, 2024
To access more information about Second Chance reforms and resources from the National Reentry Resource Center --->>> Second Chance Month 2024
