A resolution designating April 2019 as "Second Chance Month".

III 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 102 Designating April 2019 as ‘‘Second Chance Month’’. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MARCH 11, 2019 Mr. PORTMAN (for himself and Ms. KLOBUCHAR) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Designating April 2019 as ‘‘Second Chance Month’’. Whereas every individual is endowed with human dignity and value; Whereas redemption and second chances are values of the United States; Whereas millions of individuals in the United States have a criminal record; Whereas hundreds of thousands of individuals return to their communities from Federal and State prisons every year; Whereas neighbors returning to their communities have paid their debt to society after committing a crime but still face significant legal and societal barriers (referred to in this preamble as ‘‘collateral consequences’’); VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:03 Mar 12, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR102.IS SR102 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 2 •SRES 102 IS Whereas returning individuals face collateral consequences automatically, regardless of— (1) a nexus between the legal or societal barrier and public safety; (2) the seriousness of the offense committed; (3) the time passed since the offense; or (4) the efforts of the individual to make amends or earn back the trust of the public; Whereas gaining meaningful employment is one of the most significant predictors of successful reentry into society and reducing future criminal activity; Whereas many individuals who have previously been incarcer- ated struggle to find employment because of collateral consequences, which are often not directly related to the offense committed or any proven public safety benefit; Whereas many States have laws that prohibit an individual with a criminal record from working in certain industries or obtaining professional licenses; Whereas education has also been shown to be a significant predictor of successful reentry into society; Whereas an individual with a criminal record often has a lower level of educational attainment than the general population and has significant difficulty acquiring admis- sion to and funding for educational programs; Whereas an individual convicted of certain crimes is often barred from receiving the financial aid necessary to ac- quire additional skills and knowledge; Whereas an individual with a criminal record also often faces collateral consequences in securing a place to live; Whereas an individual with a criminal record is often barred from seeking access to public housing; VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:03 Mar 12, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR102.IS SR102 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 3 •SRES 102 IS Whereas an individual with a criminal record also often faces other collateral consequences, such as an inability to re- gain voting rights, volunteer in the community, and se- cure identification documentation; Whereas an individual who has been convicted and incarcer- ated may incur significant debt as a result of the convic- tion and incarceration; Whereas collateral consequences prevent millions of individ- uals in the United States from contributing fully to their families and communities; Whereas collateral consequences can contribute to recidivism, which increases crime and victimization and decreases public safety; Whereas the inability to find gainful employment and other collateral consequences of conviction inhibit the economic mobility of an individual with a criminal record, which can negatively impact the well-being of the children and the families of the individual for generations; Whereas the bipartisan First Step Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–391) was signed into law on December 21, 2018, to increase opportunities for individuals incarcerated in Federal prison to participate in meaningful recidivism re- duction programs and prepare for a second chance; Whereas the Second Chance Act of 2007 (Public Law 110– 199; 122 Stat. 657), which has resulted in the provision of reentry services to more than 164,000 individuals in 49 States and the District of Columbia since its enact- ment, was reauthorized through the First Step Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–391); Whereas April 21 marks the anniversary of the death of Charles Colson, who used his second chance following his VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:03 Mar 12, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR102.IS SR102 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 4 •SRES 102 IS incarceration for a Watergate-related crime to found Prison Fellowship, the largest outreach program to pris- oners, former prisoners, and their families in the United States; and Whereas the designation of April as ‘‘Second Chance Month’’ can contribute to increased public awareness about the impact of collateral consequences, the need for closure for those who have paid their debt to society, and opportuni- ties for individuals, employers, congregations, and com- munities to extend second chances: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) designates April 2019 as ‘‘Second Chance 2 Month’’; 3 (2) honors the work of communities, govern- 4 mental institutions, nonprofit organizations, con- 5 gregations, employers, and individuals to remove un- 6 necessary legal and societal barriers that prevent an 7 individual with a criminal record from becoming a 8 productive member of society; and 9 (3) calls upon the people of the United States 10 to observe Second Chance Month through actions 11 and programs that promote awareness of those un- 12 necessary legal and social barriers and provide clo- 13 sure for individuals with a criminal record who have 14 paid their debt to society. 15 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:03 Mar 12, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR102.IS SR102 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS