Thanks to overwhelming support from friends like you, we are finishing Second Chance Month 2018 strong! For the second year in a row, the United States Senate recently passed a resolution to declare April Second Chance Month, joining the White House, governors, state legislatures, and more than 200 organizations. All month long, Second Chance Month supporters have raised awareness and built momentum through special events and activities. We have broken down barriers, created second-chance opportunities, and helped unlock brighter futures for people who have paid their debt to society. Thank you! Read more about the milestones we've reached together here.
Every person has dignity and potential. But one in four American adults has a criminal record, which limits their access to education, jobs, housing, and other things they need to reach that potential. Since launching the first Second Chance Month in 2017, Prison Fellowship has spearheaded the nationwide effort to raise awareness about these barriers and unlock brighter futures for people with a criminal record. Together we can open the door for 65 million Americans to live up to their potential after paying their debt to society!
OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT SECOND CHANCES
SECOND CHANCE PARTNERSHIPS
Join more than 200 congregations, businesses, and organizations. Our voices will be louder together. Prison Fellowship wants to partner with churches, businesses, universities, and other organizations to coordinate events, social media, and more.
VIRTUAL 5K
Run together as athletes, families, and community members from all walks of life to run in Virtual 5Ks to raise awareness for Second Chance Month.
YOUR STORY
Do you, or someone close to you, have a story to tell second chances after incarceration? Sharing your story could have a great impact!
POLICYMAKERS
Offer a resolution or make a proclamation declaring April as Second Chance Month. Model resolutions:
SOCIAL MEDIA
Spread the word about Second Chance Month to your friends and family on Facebook and Twitter.
LET'S MAKE APRIL A CELEBRATION OF SECOND CHANCES!
No life is beyond God's reach. Just as God forgives our sins and offers us a second chance, the Bible shows us that we can offer a second chance to those who have paid their debt to society. People with a past can still have a bright future, and their families and communities stand to benefit from their contributions.
President Trump officially recognized April 2018 as Second Chance Month, along with 18 other jurisdictions and more than 200 partner organizations around the country. Prison Fellowship and its partners are working to reduce barriers keeping formerly incarcerated Americans from successfully rejoining society, and raising awareness of the importance of second chances through a press event, policy briefings, Second Chances 5Ks, "Second Chance Sunday" events held by churches, and coordinated petition and social media campaigns.
If you share our passion for breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for second chances, we invite you to partner with us and celebrate April 2018 as Second Chance Month!
JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE DECLARED APRIL 2018 SECOND CHANCE MONTH
SECOND CHANCE MONTH PARTNERS
Join the 217 congregations, businesses and organizations that have partnered with Prison Fellowship in celebrating "Second Chance Month" in April!
A New You Outreach Ministry
Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School
Acts 26.18 Ministries
Addiction Policy Forum
Aleph Institute
American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota
American Civil Liberties Union of Texas
The American Conservative Union Foundation Center for Criminal Justice Reform
American Probation and Parole Association
American University, Justice Programs Office
Americans for Tax Reform
Anacostia River Church
Another Chance Outreach Ministries, Inc.
Asiel Chaplain Services
Association of Prosecuting Attorneys
Antioch Baptist Church
Augusta’s Angels
Back on Track
Bay Area Legal Aid
Beacon of Light Prison Ministry
Bibleway
Boise Rescue Mission
Bread for the World
Breckinridge County Detention
Brenda D Ford Ministries
Brennan Center for Justice
Brennan Lenehan Iacopino & Hickey, Attorneys at Law
Bridges to Life
Building Entrepreneurs for Success in Tennessee (BEST)
By The Time
C3E Geomatics LLC
Canton United Methodist Church
Catholic Mobilizing Network
Center for Advancing Opportunity
Center for American Progress
Center for Community Alternatives
Center for Community Transitions
Center for Employment Opportunities
Center for Public Justice
Central Union Mission
The Chalmers Center
Charis of MN Inc.
Charis of MN Prison Ministry
Charles Koch Institute
Chicago West Bible Church
Christ Fellowship
Christ Memorial Church
Christian Community Development Association
Christian Discipleship Church
Christian Legal Aid of D.C.
Christian Legal Society
Christian Life Commission
Citizens Alliance on Prisons and Public Spending (CAPPS)
The Clapham Group
CleanTurn Enterprises
Clearwater Farms
Coalition for Juvenile Justice
Coalition for Public Safety
Coffee Crafters Academy
ConBody
Consolidated Container Company
Correctional Ministries and Chaplains Association
The Cottage HOPE love LIFE Council for Christian Colleges & Universities
Council of State Governments Justice Center
Criminon Florida
Crossing HOME
The Daniel Initiative
DC Dream Center
Douglass Leadership Institute
Due Process Institute
Educate to Engage
EDWINS Leadership and Restaurant Institute
El Bethel Assembly of God
Embassy Christian Center
Equal Justice USA
The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention
Evangel Ministries
Faith & Freedom Coalition
Fight Crime: Invest in Kids
First Baptist Church of Frankford Florida Rights Restoration Coalition
FOCUS Ministries
Forever FREE
FreedomWorks
Free Will Ministries
Friends Committee on National Legislation
The Friends of Guest House
Generations of Purpose
Georgia Public Policy Foundation
Glimmer of Light Fellowship Ministries
Greater Works Ministries International
Good Life Choices Consulting
Grooming Store
Harvest Fellowship Church
Harvest Time Ministries
Healing Communities
Healing Hands Ministry
HEAT INC.
HELP Program – St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church
The Heritage Foundation
HOPE Connection
Hope with Love
Hornbuckle Foundation
Hosanna Temple
House Church Ministries
House of Dreams Outreach & ReEntry I Have a Bean
Impact Justice & Equity Solutions Inc.
Innovative Living Solutions & Associates, L.L.C.
INSIDE-OUT BAR
Inside Our Reentry
Institute for Prison Ministries at Wheaton College
Jail Ministry of Otsego County
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Jobs for Felons Hub
Justice Action Network
Justice Debate League
Kansas Appleseed Center for Law and Justice
Keys to Freedom Ministries
Koch Public Sector (Koch Industries)
LatinoJustice
Law Enforcement Action Partnership
Law Enforcement Leaders to Reduce Crime and Incarceration
Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Legal Rights Center
Lifted From The Rut
Louisiana Parole Project
Michigan Council for Crime and Delinquency
Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge
Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Minnesota Corrections Association
Minnesota Second Chance Coalition
Miracle Temple Church of God in Christ
Mississippi Justice Center
Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church
More Than Conquerors Church
Moving On Up Ministry
My Father’s House
NAACP
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
National Association of Evangelicals
National Criminal Justice Association
National Employment Law Project
National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference
National Incarceration Association
National Latino Evangelical Coalition
National Network of Community Advocacy
National Reentry Network for Returning Citizens
National Religious Campaign Against Torture
New Creations Ministries, Inc.
New Hope And Life Church of God
New Hope Baptist Church
New Season Worship
New Sunlight Baptist Church
OAR of Arlington, Alexandria and Falls Church
Offender Alumni Association
Oil of Joy Worship Baptist Church of Philadelphia
One Gospel Ministries
Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church
Paradise Independent Living, LLC
Peacemakers Outreach
The Phoenix Reintegration Project
Press On Ministries
Pretrial Justice Institute
Prison Mission Association
Project Give Back to Community
Project New Opportunity
Promises of Life Prison Ministry
R Street Institute
R3 Collaborative
Reaching America
Rebuilding Lives Coalition
Restore Fellowship
Restorer of City Streets
Right on Crime
Rivers of Living Waters Fellowship
Rolling for Freedom
RS EDEN
Second Chance Quest Sharing Hope Ministry
The Sentencing Project
Shepherding the Next Generation
Soteria Community Development Association
South Jersey Aftercare
Straight Ahead Ministries
Steve Rummler Hope Network
TACS – Illinois
Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission
Texas Criminal Justice Coalition
Texas Public Policy Foundation
Texas Voices for Reason and Justice
Trinity Baptist Church
Threshold Reentry Community
Together We Bake
Trade Institute of Pittsburgh
Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities (TASC) Inc.
Tri Counties Crusaders Reentry Program
Tribe Recovery Services
True Vine Christian Academy Prison Ministry
Ujamaa Place
Unlocking Doors (Dallas)
The UpProject
UpWorks
VantagePoint Church
Vehicles for Change
Vera Institute of Justice
Volunteers of America of Minnesota and Wisconsin
Women’s Justice Consortium
The Word Network
Word of Restoration International Church
XO Factor
Youth First
"I hope that we all can join together on a bipartisan basis during Second Chance Month and all year round to support those who are returning from prison and want a fair shot at living an honest and productive life."
U.S. SENATOR ROB PORTMAN (R-OH)