By Mitch Coppes, Federal Government Affairs Manager, Goodwill Industries International
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 650,000 people are released from federal and state prisons every year. The overwhelming majority of incarcerated people will return to their communities at some point, and many will confront significant challenges to finding employment, housing, education and other opportunities when reentering society.
Local Goodwill® organizations offer job training, employment readiness, education and other critical resources that equip people who have been impacted by the justice system with the skills and the tools they need to find work, launch careers and rebuild their lives. In addition, Goodwill actively seeks to advance policy solutions that help justice-impacted people have a second chance for success and a fair chance for employment, including promoting fair-chance hiring practices, addressing the collateral consequences of a criminal conviction, and investing in community-based support and holistic reentry programs that have proven effective in reducing recidivism, strengthening families and fostering safer communities.
Second Chance Month is observed annually to raise awareness of the challenges faced by individuals impacted by the justice system and to celebrate efforts to provide second chances and opportunities for success to those individuals. A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate are sponsoring a resolution designating April 2025 as Second Chance Month nationwide. “Recognizing April as Second Chance Month is an excellent opportunity to raise awareness on the importance of creating pathways for the millions of Americans previously and currently incarcerated, who have paid their debt to society, and experience the innumerable barriers to re-entering their communities,” said Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR), who sponsored the resolution in the House. “Each of these Americans have an intrinsic value and are worthy of the dignity that comes with establishing hard-earned jobs and gaining sought-after respect.”
Many state and municipal governments have also issued proclamations recognizing Second Chance Month this April, as nonprofit organizations, employers, stakeholder groups and policymakers are taking this opportunity to highlight second chance policies and practices that have benefited justice-impacted individuals in their communities. Goodwill Industries International is proud to join the national observance of Second Chance Month 2025 and to reaffirm our commitment to supporting justice-impacted youth and adults through learning and the power of work.
