Second Chance Month 2023

SECOND CHANCE MONTH 2023

For the sixth 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.

"We serve a God of second chances—and not just one, but unlimited second chances."

—James Ackerman, President and CEO of Prison Fellowship

"This presidential proclamation supports our coalition’s collective work toward solutions that will unlock second chances and create flourishing and productive communities," said Heather Rice-Minus, executive vice president of strategic initiatives at Prison Fellowship^®.

A resolution acknowledging Second Chance Month has also been passed by a bipartisan group of U.S. senators. This marks the fifth year that such a declaration has been made by the U.S. Senate.

Since 2017, Prison Fellowship has spearheaded the nationwide effort to raise awareness about the barriers faced by men and women with a criminal record and to unlock their second chances.

April 2023 was our seventh consecutive year celebrating April as Second Chance Month, and the movement has rapidly grown and deepened across the United States. In addition to Congress and the White House, 23 states and Washington, D.C., officially recognized April 2023 as Second Chance Month. Also, more than 880 churches, businesses, and organizations joined Prison Fellowship as official Second Chance Month partners.

SECOND CHANCE MONTH 2023 EVENTS

Together with you and our partners, Prison Fellowship hosted events and raised our voices to highlight the importance of second chances. Events included a Twitter chat on public safety on April 12, a Capitol Hill briefing with Faith & Law on April 14, a Road to Second Chances Prayer Walk in Ohio on April 15, and a Second Chance^® Sunday service on April 30.

SECOND CHANCE SUNDAY SERVICE

This year’s Second Chance Sunday service was held at Glad Tidings International Church of God in Christ in Hayward, California, and featured testimonies of second chances alongside a message by Bishop J.W. Macklin. The service was held on Sunday, April 30, but can still be viewed on demand.

SECOND CHANCE TWITTER CHAT

On April 12, Prison Fellowship’s advocacy team hosted a public Twitter chat on the theme “Are Second Chances a Key to Safer Streets?” This interactive discussion featured a series of discussions on housing, fines and fees, employment, and other issues facing returning citizens. Here are some highlights:

SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER

We sent a total of 13,791 letters to lawmakers asking them to support second chances—and they listened! As a result, Congress learned about the importance of second chances and the White House, 23 states, and the District of Columbia officially declared April as Second Chance Month!

Prison Fellowship Justice Ambassadors held events like Second Chance Sundays, candle vigils, prayer walks, luncheons, and community-wide celebrations from the east to the west coast to spread awareness on the importance of second chances. Further, ambassadors advocated for justice reform by meeting with lawmakers to discuss important second chance legislation.