Prison Fellowship

  • DONATE
    • One-Time
    • Monthly
    • Angel Tree
    • Other Ways to Give
  • GET INVOLVED
    • Subscribe
    • Angel Tree Christmas
    • Start a Fundraiser
    • Pray With Us
    • Justice Action Center
    • Share on Social
  • STORIES
    • Stories
    • Blog
    • Videos
    • The Restoration Series [Videos]
  • WHAT WE DO
    • Why Help Prisoners?
    • What We Do
    • In-Prison
      • Prison Fellowship Academy
      • In-Prison Programs
      • Hope Events
      • Inside Journal
      • Women’s Ministry
      • Create: New Beginnings
    • Angel Tree
      • Register your church or group for Angel Tree
      • Prison Fellowship Angel Tree
      • Angel Tree Christmas
      • Angel Tree Camping
      • Angel Tree Sports Camp
    • Justice Reform
      • Justice Reform
      • Second Chance Month
      • News & Updates
      • Sign the Justice Declaration
      • Get a Copy of Outrageous Justice
    • Warden Exchange
    • Church Partners
    • Corporate Partnerships
    • Preparing Prisoners for Reentry
  • RESOURCES
    • Subscribe to Our Email
    • Support for Friends and Family of Prisoners
      • Resources for Friends and Family of Prisoners
      • Coping with Incarceration
      • Resources for Prisoners
      • Resources for Children of Prisoners
      • Supporting Successful Prisoner Reentry
    • Resources for Churches and Volunteers
      • Resources for Churches and Volunteers
      • In-Prison Ministry
      • Reentry Ministry
      • Family Ministry
      • Justice Reform
      • Mentoring Ministry
    • Resources for Angel Tree Coordinators
    • Resources for Chaplains
    • Resources for D.O.C.
    • Justice Reform Resources
    • Research and Evaluation Library
    • Share on Social
    • For Media Outlets
  • ABOUT US
    • Leadership
    • Chuck Colson
      • About Chuck Colson
      • The Charles Colson Hope Awards
    • Our Beliefs
    • Financials
      • Financials
      • 2022 Annual Report
    • Employment
    • Contact Us
    • In The News

Second Chance Month 2019

Second Chances CMYK

SECOND CHANCE MONTH 2019

For the second straight year, the White House declared April Second Chance™ Month to help unlock second chances for the tens of millions of Americans with a criminal record.

"The barriers placed on people who have paid their debt to society wastes human potential and adds to recidivism, ultimately jeopardizing public safety."

Craig DeRoche

"This second proclamation gives us hope in our work to help people with a criminal record reach their God-given potential in life,” said Craig DeRoche, senior vice president of advocacy and public policy at Prison Fellowship®. “The barriers placed on people who have paid their debt to society wastes human potential and adds to recidivism, ultimately jeopardizing public safety."

Prison Fellowship has spearheaded the nationwide effort to raise awareness about the barriers faced by returning citizens and unlock second chances for people with a criminal record.

April 2019 was the best Second Chance Month yet. In addition to the White House, 23 states and the District of Columbia officially recognized April as Second Chance Month.

 

The conversation continued online with #SecondChanceMonth Twitter chats that featured 26 guest panelists, including leaders such as Governor Bill Lee of Tennessee and U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta. Panelists  and our online audience discussed a wide range of second chance topics throughout the month. Altogether, 17.3 million people from 68 countries saw #SecondChanceMonth social media posts in April.

Along with government bodies, Prison Fellowship also partnered with more than 300 other organizations—like the NAACP, the Heritage Foundation, ACLU, and Koch Industries—who are leading the charge to unlock the potential of formerly incarcerated people.

"I am thankful for my second chance, and we can’t overestimate what Second Chance Month will mean to so many others."

Marcus Bullock

Marcus Bullock is the CEO of a Second Chance Month Partner organization named Flikshop, a company that sends high-quality, security-friendly postcards to men and women in prison. Marcus was also formerly incarcerated. “I am thankful for my second chance, and we can’t overestimate what Second Chance Month will mean to so many others.”

Throughout April, prayer walks, a motorcycle ride, and Second Chance 5Ks— more than 30 events overall—all celebrated the potential of the 1 in 3 adults with a criminal record. In Minnesota, the state corrections director even ran alongside prisoners during a 5K inside a prison!

Year by year, the conversation is shifting, and an ever-increasing number of governments, businesses, churches, and organizations are working to make second chances a part of their culture every month of the year.

JURISDICTIONS THAT DECLARED APRIL 2019 SECOND CHANCE MONTH

The White House

The State of Tennessee

The State of South Carolina

The State of Washington

The State of Nebraska

The State of Louisiana

The State of New Hampshire

The State of Arkansas

The State of West Virginia

The State of Idaho

The State of New Jersey

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

The District of Columbia

The State of Wisconsin

The State of North Carolina

The State of Alabama

The State of Georgia

The State of Texas

The State of Michigan

The State of Minnesota

The State of Iowa

The Commonwealth of Virginia

The State of Delaware

The State of Ohio

"This month, we celebrate those who have exited the prison system and successfully reentered society and renew our commitment to providing support and resources that former inmates need to meet their responsibilities, rediscover their self‑worth, and benefit from the gift of a second chance."

PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP

SECOND CHANCE MONTH 2019: IN THE NEWS

The Gospel of Second Chances
The Christian Post

President Trump and the GOP Commit to Second Chances
Fox News

How I ‘Jump-Started’ My Life After Prison
The Crime Report

Second Chance Month Provides Second Chances
The Washington Times

April is Second Chance Month. Here’s How Kentucky is Making a Difference
Insider Louisville

Restoring Those Who’ve Served Their Time
The Christian Post

Second Chances in Minnesota
Right on Crime

JOIN OUR ONLINE COMMUNITY

FACEBOOK
TWITTER
INSTAGRAM
YOUTUBE
LINKEDIN
PF®
PFM®

RECOMMENDED LINKS

  • Ways to Donate
  • Inspirational Stories
  • Angel Tree Program
  • Prison Fellowship Academy
  • Justice Reform

RESOURCES

  • For Families & Friends of Prisoners
  • For Churches & Angel Tree Volunteers
  • For Media Outlets
  • Warden Exchange

JOIN RESTORATION PARTNERS AND WITNESS GOD RESTORE LIVES

Restoration Partners give monthly to bring life-changing prison ministry programs to incarcerated men and women across the country.

 

JOIN NOW
  • CONTACT US
  • EMPLOYMENT
  • PRIVACY
  • FINANCIALS
© 2023 PRISON FELLOWSHIP®

Angel Tree®, Angel Tree Camping®, Angel Tree Sports ClinicTM, Angel Tree Sports CampsTM, and Warden Exchange® are programs of Prison Fellowship®.