Second Chance Month

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. The awareness effort is led by Prison Fellowship, the nation's largest nonprofit serving prisoners, former prisoners, and their families, and an advocate for justice reform. Activities include promoting public awareness and encouraging employers to become second-chance employer.
In the United States, one in three American adults has a criminal record, which limits their access to education, jobs, housing, and other things necessary for a productive life. Even after they have completed their sentences and have been released from prison, these men and women face more than 48,000 documented legal restrictions in addition to widespread social stigma. This is sometimes called the “second prison.”
Prison Fellowship founded Second Chance Month in 2017 to raise awareness and improve perceptions of people with a criminal record, encourage second-chance opportunities, and drive momentum for policy change throughout the country. The nonprofit designated April as Second Chance Month for several reasons, including the following:
Prison Fellowship declared Second Chance Month for the first time in April 2017. More than 77 organizations joined the nonpartisan effort as official second-chance partners (although partnership does not indicate support for particular legislation or policies). Throughout April, Prison Fellowship mobilized individuals, businesses, organizations, legislators, and other supporters to sign petitions, post to social media, attend special events, and amplify the call for second-chance opportunities in the United States.
Prison Fellowship asked Senators Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Robert Portman, R-Ohio, to take the lead with the United States Senate resolution to declare April 2017 as Second Chance Month. Sens. James Lankford, R-Okla., and Richard Durbin, D-Ill., also co-sponsored the resolution.
The United States House also introduced a resolution
Second Chance Month 2017 received widespread recognition by media outlets and other groups:
On April 8, 2017, Prison Fellowship hosted the Second Chance 5K walk/run, including a kid's fun run, at Sloan's Lake Park in Denver. Second Chance 5Ks are community events that bring people together inside and outside of prison to raise awareness of the many collateral consequences of a criminal conviction and catalyze real, significant change in public attitudes and policies.
On April 23, 2017, Prison Fellowship and its Minnesota partners hosted the Second Chance 5K at Concordia University's Sea Foam Stadium in St. Paul. The event drew more than 250 participants, including St. Paul's Mayor Chris Coleman, who shared comments at the rally prior to the race. While runners participated on the outside, people ran in solidarity behind bars at Lino Lakes, Shakopee, and Stillwater prisons.
For a second consecutive year, Prison Fellowship declared April as Second Chance Month. More than 200 businesses, congregations, organizations, and others joined with Prison Fellowship as official second-chance partners (partnership does not indicate support for particular legislation or policies). Prison Fellowship's Second Chance Month toolkit provided social media hashtags, sample social media posts, shareable graphics and banners, and other promotional tools for supporters.
Prison Fellowship developed model resolutions and proclamations which have been used by policymakers at the state, federal, and local levels. The total number of state and local resolutions has quadrupled since 2017.
For the first time, the White House issued a proclamation recognizing April as Second Chance Month. This took place on March 30, days after Prison Fellowship's president and CEO James J. Ackerman and Vice President of Advocacy and Public Policy Craig DeRoche met with Vice President Mike Pence to discuss Prison Fellowship's work and the nation's readiness for second chances.
The United States Senate passed a resolution declaring April Second Chance Month for the second year in a row. Sen. Robert Portman, R-Ohio, introduced the resolution. Other sponsors of the bill include Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.; James Lankford, R-Okla.; Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill.; John Cornyn, R-Texas; and Gary Peters, D-Mich.
The United States House also introduced a resolution.
Several other jurisdictions issued their own recognitions of Second Chance Month throughout April:
Prison Fellowship's Second Chance Month received exponentially greater media exposure in 2018 than the previous year, with 963 editorial mentions and approximately 507 million article views. Second Chance Month captured the attention of national media outlets including the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Huffington Post, FOX News, PBS NewsHour, The Hill, USA Today, CNN, and New York Times. Regional news coverage of Second Chance Month events took place in 23 targeted media markets around the country. A combined 800 million people were reached through #SecondChanceMonth earned and social media.
Several op-eds ran throughout the month, including the following:
Several key events took place to raise support and awareness for Second Chance Month in 2018, including the following:
Second Chance Sundays: Throughout April, churches hosted Second Chance Sunday services with special messages and prayer for returning citizens and their families. Pastors delivered sermons on redemption and second chances, including this sermon by Pastor Jon Kelly of Chicago West Bible Church, who served time in prison before joining the ministry.
April 7: Prison Fellowship organized the Road to Second Chances in Washington, D.C., along with partners including the D.C. Mayor’s Office of Returning Citizen Affairs; Healing Communities USA; the DC Dream Center; Anacostia River Church; National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; Little Lights; Friends of the Guest House; So Others Might Eat; Central Union Mission; Women Involved in Reentry Efforts; Christian Legal Aid; Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School; SOME Center for Employment Training; Council for Court Excellence; One Love = True Change; Center for State Governments Justice Center; Harvest Life Fellowship Church; Dress for Success Washington, D.C.; and others. Hundreds of people gathered at Anacostia Park for a community-wide prayer walk ending at the DC Dream Center. The event featured a press conference, true stories of people searching for their second chance, and a reentry fair with legal, educational, employment, advocacy, and counseling services.
April 22: To raise awareness and promote second chances, Prison Fellowship hosted the second annual Second Chance 5K in St. Paul along with local partners including Charis Prison Ministry; Concordia University, St. Paul; Conflict Resolution Minnesota; Community Mediation & Restorative Services, Inc.; Crossing HOME; I AM DUCHE BRADLEY, Mile in My Shoes; Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge; the Minnesota Second Chance Coalition; Sparrows Rising; Thrive! Family Support; and Ujamaa Place. In 2018, 335 participated in the St. Paul Second Chance 5K, including community members, former prisoners, and Mayor Jacob Frey, D-Minneapolis. Mayor Frey finished first in the 5K and participated as a rally speaker along with Minnesota State Representative Fue Lee, a member of former mayor Chris Coleman's office, and Duche Bradley. Meanwhile, 912 prisoners at Faribault, Lino Lakes, Shakopee, and Stillwater prisons ran in solidarity with those outside.
Trumbull Correctional Institution (TCI) was the first Ohio prison to conduct a Second Chance 5K. WKBN covered the story of the 5K at TCI.
ConBody, the creator of the prison-style boot camp that employs former prisoners as trainers, organized a Second Chance 5K in New York City.
Prison Fellowship organized the Virtual Second Chance 5K for people to show support for Second Chance Month in their own communities. Registered participants received a special race packet including a runner's medal and race bib.
April 23: On Capitol Hill, Prison Fellowship co-hosted a screening of Knife Skills with Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio. The film received an Academy Award nomination for 2018 Best Documentary Short Subject. The Capitol Hill event included a discussion moderated by CNN commentator Shermichael Singleton and featuring the film's director, Thomas Lennon, and EDWINS owner, Brandon Chrostowski. Sen. Portman offered remarks after the screening.
Other local Second Chance Month events, including 5Ks and job fairs, were organized by individuals and groups in communities across the country.
On March 11, 2019, U.S. Representatives Mark Walker (R-N.C.) and Tony Cárdenas (D-Calif.) introduced a resolution expressing support for April 2019 to be recognized as Second Chance Month. A Senate companion bill is being introduced by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio).
On March 29, the White House issued an official proclamation, making April 2019 proclaim April 2019 as Second Chance Month. From the proclamation, the president's quote:
"I call on all Americans to commemorate this month with events and activities that raise public awareness about preventing crime and providing those who have completed their sentences an opportunity for an honest second chance."
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Prison Fellowship and its partners adapted Second Chance Month 2020 events from in-person to virtual in response to the virus.
Prison Fellowship joined 20 states and jurisdictions, along with the White House, to formally declare April as Second Chance Month.
Throughout April, social media campaigns, prayer groups, Twitter chats, and other activities centered around Second Chance Month took place around the nation. Prayer leaders in Detroit, Chicago, Minneapolis, Lincoln, Oklahoma City, Fresno, and San Bernardino joined forces for a Road to Second Chances Virtual Prayer Meeting, where community members from all these cities came together to cover our nation with prayer. More than 380 partners joined Prison Fellowship in advocating for second chances, and several states declared their support for Second Chance Month.
Several op-eds and articles highlighting Second Chance Month ran throughout April, including:
April 1: Prison Fellowship pivots to celebrate the fourth annual Second Chance Month with a virtual gala.
April 1: The White House issues a proclamation, signed by the president, declaring April as Second Chance Month for the third year in a row.
April 18: The Road to Second Chances Virtual Prayer Meeting featured real-life stories of people living out their second chance and opportunities to pray for all those affected by crime and incarceration.