This month we are joining with Prison Fellowship international celebrating Second Chances Month an initiative to raise public awareness about the challenges Returning Citizens, folks coming home from prison, must overcome to become successful citizens in their community. There are over 44,000 laws and regulations that stand in their way some of which, on the surface, seem reasonable, but many are not. For example, Returning Citizens who had jobs or careers before they went to prison that required licensing often find that they can no longer return to their former career. In many states dog groomers need to be licensed. However, if they have been convicted of a felony, they can no longer get the necessary license to return to work. Hairdressers, barbers, massage therapists, restaurant workers and hundreds of other trades and professions have similar regulations that prevent Returning Citizens from returning to well-paying jobs for many years, if ever.
Over 95 % of incarcerated individuals will eventually be released and return to their communities. Only the most serious offenders remain incarcerated. According to DOJ statistics reported through Prison Fellowship, ove1 one in three Americans living in our communities has a felony record and has been incarcerated. This negatively impacts our workforce and hampers our economy. This situation is a result of the zero tolerance laws that we as a nation implemented starting in the mid 80s into the 2000’s. While these laws made us feel safer, statistics show that these kinds of laws and regulations have done little to curb crime yet are costing the taxpayers billions of dollars paying to incarceration.
For more information visit Second Chance Month
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