The Second Chance Act

THE SECOND CHANCE ACT: Other Projects

The Purpose Of The Second Chance Act

As an act to strengthen community reentry services for individuals leaving prisons and jails, the Second Chance Act is made to offer service in areas such as public assistance, housing, health, and mental health services. Through the collaboration with criminal justice, public health, and social service systems, education and job training would be included too. The legislation emphasizes the important need for programs and services for those in prison and the chance for them to maintain relationships with families and children.[2]

Facts And Data

Organizations and agencies in 49 US states have been awarded Second Chance Act grants since 2009
Second chance Act-funded programs have served approximately 164,000 individuals.
Since 2011, more than 12,000 of those program participants who received employment services have obtained employment.
Out of those who are incarcerated in state prisons an estimate of 95% will be released back into society at some point. [3]

[2] Pogorzelski, Wendy, Nancy Wolff, Ko-Yu Pan, and Cynthia L. Blitz. "Behavioral Health Problems, Ex-Offender Reentry Policies, and the “Second Chance Act”." American Journal of Public Health95, no. 10 (2005): 1718-724. doi:10.2105/ajph.2005.065805.

[3] Justice Center. "The Second Chance Act (Fact Sheet)." CSG Justice Center. April 15, 2018. https://csgjusticecenter.org/jc/publications/fact-sheet-the-second-chance-act/.

THE SECOND CHANCE ACT: Text